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Aug3

August 2, 2024 – Dante Questions Ava, Exclusive, Happy Anniversary, She’s Got Texts, Future Plans, Done, VanderDish, New Reality, Big Baby, Excellent, Pool Noodles, Stripes X 4, Pickle, Quote Tenner & Take

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Ava says she’s so looking forward to sitting in that courtroom while Kristina testifies that her father is a violent brutal thug who doesn’t belong anywhere near their daughter. Kristina says, if Ava forces her to get on that stand, she’ll tell them that Ava messed with Morgan’s bipolar meds. She replaced them with placebos and caused him to have a mental breakdown. She won’t stop there either. She’ll also share that Ava murdered Connie Falconari. If Ava forces her to tell the truth about her father, she can be damn sure Kristina will tell the truth about her too. Ava grabs Kristina’s arm, and Kristina says, don’t you touch me. She takes a step back and trips over John’s bag, stumbling backward and crashing through the window. She falls down several stories into the pool, screaming all the way. Everyone is horrified. (The looks on their faces makes me want to burst into tears.)

Sonny says, Lois is one of his dearest friends and he loves her, but his is not a good time. Can they table this conversation for another time? She says, no. They cannot table it when it affects her daughter’s future.

TJ tells Alexis that he and Molly have done the research. When the biological parents aren’t married to each other, courts tend to favor the mother in terms of physical custody which gives Kristina a definite advantage. Alexis says, he’s getting way ahead of himself, but he says he disagrees. Their baby is almost here. It’s time to know where they all stand. Alexis says she doesn’t know what Kristina is going to do. She doesn’t have control over her. She’s an adult. He says, this is his child they’re talking about. He wants to know if he’s going to spend the first few months or years of their life in family court. She says, again, he’s asking her to respond to a hypothetical situation that they don’t know will happen, and he asks if that isn’t what lawyers do. Weigh every possible angle so they can prepare their client for every possible contingency. She says, he’s not her client, and he says, no, he’s not. He’s her daughter’s partner. He’s family. She says, he is family, and so are her three daughters, two of which are in an impossible situation right now. He tells her, she just said it. She’s Molly and Kristina’s mom, and they’re both going to look to her. What is she going to do when Kristina tries to take their baby?

Kristina floats face down in the pool, threads of blood coming from her nose and mouth, and Josslyn tells everyone to stay back. She tells Brook to call 911, and Brook says she’s on it. Gio asks what he can do, and she tells him to get the backboard. Ava looks down from the smashed-out window, and Josslyn turns Kristina over. Blaze yells, Kristina! and now, everyone is doubly freaked out.

Blaze tries to run toward the pool, but Natalia holds her back and tells her to let Josslyn do her job. Help is on the way. Trina looks up and says, Ava? and Ava quickly closes the curtains. On the phone, Brook says, they need help. She fell from one of the upper windows into the pool. She’s unconscious… She doesn’t know. Just tell the paramedics to hurry. She’s pregnant.

In her room, Ava tells herself to think and picks up her phone.

Josslyn tells Kristina, hang in there. Help is on the way.

Ava leaves a message for Scotty. She needs him like she’s never needed him before.

Lois asks, is the money Sonny is going to invest in this record company legit? Yes or no? Sonny says, yes, and she says, fine. Then she wants to see proof. She wants to see the financials. She wants to see where the money originated and the taxes he paid on it. She’s not trying to offend him, but as much as she loves him, she’s a mother first, and has to make sure Brook is protected. He says he’ll call his accountant, and Lois can talk to him. She can ask him anything she wants. She says, don’t push her off on his accountant, but he says, it’s not a good time. She asks if he’s mad at her, but he says he’s not. He just has a lot going on. She says, fine, but Brook’s involvement in this record company depends on her seeing the proof, and he says, fine. She says she’s sorry. She hates leaving things like this between them, but she guesses for now this is how it’s got to be. He gives her the number, and she leaves.

Natalia continues to hold Blaze back, when Gio returns with the board. Josslyn says she’s going to need his help to get Kristina out of the water, and he asks what she needs him to do. She says, he has to get the backboard under her, but he has to be very careful. She doesn’t know if Kristina injured her back or her spine. He’s going to turn the board on its side and turn it back very swiftly when it’s in the water. Then get it under Kristina as it floats back up…. Very good. Now they have to get her head stable, so she can get Kristina to the stairs. Place one hand firmly under her chin… Very good. Now place his other hand under the backboard. Now they have to get her strapped in.

Alexis tells TJ that she hopes to God it doesn’t happen, but she can’t be put in the middle. She can’t be put in a position where she has to choose between her daughters. He says he wishes she didn’t have to. He knows what a terrible position this is for her to be in, but it’s time. She says, her girls have done without a lot, but they’ve never done without her, and they count on that. Again, she can’t be put in a position where she has to choose one daughter at the expense of another. He says, that’s just where they are now, but she says, not if he and Molly don’t force the issue. He says, Kristina says she and Blaze, who she’s known less than a year, would make better parents than him and Molly. She’s testing the water. Alexis is the one who told them about the law surrounding this before they ever agreed to the surrogacy. Who has the strongest claim to the baby? She says, Kristina, and he says, if Kristina decides to exercise that claim and keep the baby, then he and Molly have already lost. Is she going to say, the law is the law? She says, the law is the law and there’s nothing she can do about it, and he says, so in other words, she’s a coward. He walks away.

Josslyn asks if Kristina can hear her. Can she open her eyes? She listens for a heartbeat, and Trina brings over towels. Trina asks if anyone has called Kristina’s parents, but Gio says he doesn’t know. She says, shouldn’t they? when the paramedics come in. Josslyn tells them that Kristina fell out of that window and into the pool. She’s been unconscious since they got to her. They tried to be careful. She doesn’t know what injuries Kristina has. A paramedic says, they’ll take it from here, and they get to work.

Dante and Chase arrive at the scene with some officers, and Dante tells an officer to clear everyone away from the pool and clear this whole area. Brook goes over to them, and Chase asks, what’s wrong? Brook says, it’s Kristina, and Dante goes over to Kristina and says, it’s me. He’s here, okay? She’s going to be all right. They’re taking her to the hospital and they’re going to take care of her. She’s just got to hang in there. Chase tells the officers that the entire place needs to be locked down immediately. He doesn’t want anyone leaving here without his okay. They have no idea what they’re dealing with. He asks if Brook saw what happened, but she says, not really. She was here meeting with Blaze and Natalia. Everything was completely normal, and literally out of the clear blue sky, this. The paramedic says, they’re ready to go, and Dante tells Kristina that he loves her. She’s going to be fine. Blaze says, she’s coming with them, and the paramedic asks if she’s family. Josslyn says she’s Kristina’s sister. She’ll go and they’ll meet Blaze there. Crying, Blaze asks her to hold Kristina’s hand for her. She just doesn’t want Kristina to feel like she’s alone. Josslyn says she will, and they leave. Natalia tells Blaze that she’ll drive and they follow. Chase asks if Brook is okay, but she says, not really. Such an awful thing to see. Her hands are still shaking. Would it be okay if she just went to the ladies room to splash some cold water on her face? He says, sure, and she leaves. Dante calls Sonny.

Ava leaves another message for Scotty asking, where the hell is he? She needs him and she needs him right now. She looks at John’s bag and flashes back to Kristina threatening to tell the truth about her and Kristina’s subsequent fall. She says, everything is falling apart, and peeks out through the curtains. Please. She needs him. Come to her room at the MetroCourt as soon as he can. She flashes back to Kristina tripping over the bag and out the window, and says, everything’s going to be all right. She didn’t mean for that to happen. It was an accident. She remembers touching Kristina, and Kristina backing away before she tripped. She says, but no one’s going to believe it… unless she helps them believe it.

Alexis says she knows TJ is under a lot of stress. She just doesn’t know what he wants her to do. She doesn’t know what she can do. He says, so she’ll say nothing and do nothing, and doing nothing about the situation is the exact same thing as choosing Kristina. If she does nothing, Molly is going to interpret that as her supporting what Kristina is doing and that’s going to devastate her. Alexis says, and if she supports Molly and doesn’t support Kristina, Kristina will be devastated. She warned everyone from the very beginning. This was her biggest fear. It’s an unwinnable situation. He says, the only reason Kristina is even pregnant is because he and Molly wanted to have a baby. If she changes her mind, that’s wrong. It’s theft. That’s something Sonny would do, so he guesses she’s her father’s daughter, right? Alexis says she told everyone from the beginning that the law is on Kristina’s side, and he says, she’s not powerless. Her hands are not tied. She asks what he’d have her do. Seriously, tell her what she’s supposed to do. He says, talk to Kristina. He thinks Kristina will listen to her. Explain to her that if she decides to keep their baby, that will destroy her relationship with Molly. It will decimate it. Talk to her. Kristina will listen to her. She can get through to Kristina and might be the only one who can.

In the ambulance, the paramedic reads Kristina’s vitals, and Josslyn says, oh God. Her blood pressure’s dropping. He asks, how far along is her pregnancy? and Josslyn says, eight months. Why? Kristina’s eyes flutter open, and Josslyn says, it’s her. They’re on their way to GH. Kristina asks if the baby will be okay.

Sonny’s phone rings, and he says, what? Gio says, Uncle Sonny? and Sonny asks, what’s up? Gio says, Dante’s been trying to call him, and Sonny says he’s been busy. What does he need? Gio says, it’s not… He’s at work at the pool at the MetroCourt. Something’s happened. Sonny asks, what’s wrong? and Gio says, there was an accident. At least he thinks it was an accident. She fell out of a window and into the pool. She’s hurt. Sonny says, who? and Gio says, Kristina.

Chase asks how Dante is doing, and he says he’s fine. Seeing his sister on that gurney… She looked pretty terrible. Chase says, Kristina’s a fighter, just like Dante. She’s going to be okay. He can take it from here. Dante should go to the hospital. Dante asks if he’s sure. They don’t even know what this is. Chase says he can handle it. It’s more important for Dante to be there for his sister and his family right now. Gio says, sorry to interrupt. He got through to Sonny. Dante thanks him for doing that, and Gio says, of course (🍷). He steps away, and Dante says, his dad can make sure Kristina is taken care of. He needs to figure out what happened to Kristina, if she fell out of that window. If she didn’t fall out, that means a crime was committed. He has to find out what it was either way. Chase says, okay. Let’s get to work. Dante asks how many witnesses they have, and Chase says, they’re still collecting them, but from the people he’s talked to, they don’t know much. They were focused on the pool and only saw Kristina after she fell. Dante says, they’ve got to talk to security. They have footage and they have to get their hands on that. They have to get inside that room. Kristina fell out of the window with the curtains closed. Wouldn’t she have grabbed onto them and wouldn’t a curtain be following her down to the pool? Chase says, he’s right. Someone must have closed them after she fell. Kristina wasn’t alone in that room. Trina walks over to them, and Dante says, what is it? Does she know something?

TJ tells Alexis, Sonny is going to back Kristina no matter what. They can’t count on him to be the voice of reason, but Kristina knows Alexis will say the truth to her even if it’s hard to hear. Please help guide her to doing the right thing. Be her parent. Alexis says, being a parent is a lot harder than he thinks. He’s going to find that out soon enough. He says he may never get that chance if Kristina gets her way. He may not have the years of parenting experience Alexis does, but if he gets that chance, he’ll make sure his child knows family is to be cherished above all else and is the only thing that can be counted on, which he’s sure Kristina knows, given that she’s had Molly’s unwavering support for her whole life. Alexis says, it’s true, she has, and he says he’ll make sure his child understands the ramifications of taking family for granted. She says, understood, and he asks if she understands if she takes Kristina’s side over Molly’s, that will not just cause a rift between the sister, she could lose Molly, and that could shatter her entire family. She says she did try to prevent this. She warned everyone that this could happen. He says, so that’s the best she’s got; I told you so.

Brook takes a breather in the ladies’ room and flashes back to seeing Kristina crash through the window and into the pool. Lois comes in and runs to Brook and hugs her. She says, Chase told her that Brook was in here. He didn’t have time to tell her what was going on, so she asked an attendant. They said, someone fell out of a window and into the pool, and that Brook saw everything. Is she okay? Brook says, not just someone. It’s Kristina.

Kristina looks around, and Josslyn says she’s right here. Kristina asks where she is, and Josslyn says, she’s in the ambulance on the way to GH. Kristina asks, why? What happened? Josslyn says, she fell through a window and into the pool, but she’s going to be okay. Kristina says she’s scared, and Josslyn says she knows, but the paramedics already alerted the doctors at GH. They know what’s happened and they’re ready to treat her and the baby. She’s in the best possible hands. Kristina says she wants her dad and mom, and Josslyn says she thinks they’re already on their way. She’s going to see them soon. Just try to hang on, for her and for the baby. Kristina says she’s so scared, and slips into unconsciousness again.

TJ thanks Alexis for clarifying, but she says, instead of blaming her, sit down with Molly and talk. They’ll get through it. He says, they’ve already talked. Actually, they’re in perfect agreement. The baby is theirs. That’s been the expectation and the agreement for the last eight months until Kristina decided it wasn’t. So now it’s all on her. She has all the power. She thinks it’s her kid to do whatever she wants with; him and Molly be damned. Kristina is wheeled in, and the paramedic tells Dr. Park that she’s pregnant and fell through a glass window. She’s been in and out of consciousness. He gives the doctor her vitals and says, her abdomen is very firm. She may be abrupting. TJ and Alexis realize it’s Kristina.

Trina sits with Gio and says, he should be proud of himself. He says, for what? and she says, he doesn’t have any medical training, does he? He says, not really, and she says, but he still jumped up and helped Joss. He says he was kind of just going on autopilot. He just did what she told him to. He should have known to go straight for the backboard without her having to say it. She says, he can’t beat himself up. He didn’t have any training. He says, still, and she says, if it’s on him, then it’s on all of them. None of them knew what to do. They just froze, so thank God for Joss. He says, she was amazing. He just doesn’t get it. How could something like this happen? How can you just fall out of a window? Did she see the fall? She says, no. She just looked up after. It’s Ava’s room. She saw Ava standing at the window. He says, Ava her boss? and Trina says, Ava’s not just her boss. Ava’s her friend. He asks how well she really knows Ava, and she says she’s not sure. Maybe she doesn’t really know her at all.

Kristina is wheeled into one of the rooms, and Dr. Park says, they’re going to do everything they can. She’s in great hands. TJ says, Kristina is carrying his child. He can help. Where is he needed? Dr. Park says, don’t worry. They’ve got this. Just stay here with the family. Alexis asks, what happened? and Josslyn says, she fell out of a window in the MetroCourt and into the pool. Alexis says, what? and Josslyn says she doesn’t know what happened. She gave Kristina first aid until the paramedics got there. That’s all she knows. TJ says, the paramedics said the placenta is separating from the uterus, and Alexis says she doesn’t know what that means. How is the baby? He says, Kristina’s hanging in there. The baby has to be hanging in there, right? Alexis says, how the hell did it happen?

Ava ditches John’s bags in the bedroom, then takes an ice bucket full of ice out of the credenza. She dumps it all over the floor, throws down a water pitcher, and drops her shoes in front of the window. She says, Kristina did this to herself, when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it and Dante is there.

Josslyn says she doesn’t know how it happened. All she knows is, Kristina fell from the window and into the pool. It happened very quickly. TJ wonders what she was even doing at the MetroCourt, and Josslyn says she doesn’t know, but she’s going to give them a minute. Blaze comes in with Natalia, and Blaze says she’s so glad Alexis is here. Where is Kristina? Alexis says, they’re working on her, and Natalia says, any word on her condition or the baby? TJ says, they don’t know anything yet, and Blaze asks, where’s Molly? TJ says, in court. He hasn’t called her yet. Everything happened so fast. He doesn’t know how to tell her. Blaze says, that’s okay. She’ll help him. They leave, and Natalia asks if she can get Alexis coffee or water or something, but Alexis shakes her head, trying not to cry. Sonny comes in and they hug.

Ava says, thank God Dante is here. She knew the police would show up eventually, so she didn’t dare leave. How is Kristina? He says he’s not here to answer questions; he’s here to ask them. He takes out his notebook and says, why doesn’t she tell him what happened? She says, Kristina showed up here about forty-five minutes ago. She wasn’t expecting her, but thought Kristina was here to help with her custody case. He says, she thought Kristina was going to help her take Avery away from her father? and she says she was under the impression Kristina had witnessed enough of Sonny’s irrational behavior to know he’s unstable right now. She’d hoped Kristina knew that Avery isn’t safe with him. He says, that’s what she believed? and she says, yes, but she was wrong. He says, why doesn’t she tell him why Kristina was really here, and checks out the curtains. She says, because she thought Kristina was willing to help her. Her attorney, Scott Baldwin, subpoenaed Kristina to get her deposition. She thought Kristina would be willing to talk to him, but she wasn’t. She was irate about the subpoena. He says, so she didn’t ask Kristina to testify first. She just served her with the subpoena? She says she misjudged Kristina, and he says, clearly. She says, Kristina demanded that she recall the subpoena. She told Kristina that she didn’t think she could do that, that things had already been set in motion, and that just made her angrier. He says, she’s eight and a half months pregnant. Ava is trying to turn her against her father. Of course (🍷) she’s going to be angry. She says, this was not about being pregnant. This was a lot more. Kristina lost it. Kristina was trying to attack her. She went for Ava’s throat. He says, that just doesn’t sound like Kristina, and Ava says she knows. That’s why she was so shocked. She didn’t want Kristina to hurt her, but she didn’t want Kristina to hurt herself. She moved away. She was trying to get some distance between them, but Kristina kept coming at her. He says, why doesn’t she tell him how Kristina went out the window, and she says, Kristina lunged at her. She moved out of the way and Kristina tripped over her shoes. She fell into the glass, then to Ava’s horror, she fell through it. He says, let him get this straight. Kristina showed up here so irate that Ava was trying to turn her against Sonny, that she came at Ava physically. Ava evaded her and she trips, flies through the curtains, and into the window and down to the pool below. Ava says, that’s right, and he says, the curtains were open. A witness saw her standing at the window after Kristina fell through. They saw her close the curtains. Does she want to revise that part of her story? She says, now that he mentions it, yes. She did close the curtains. She was so horrified by what happened, she was afraid to look down. He says, so she closed the curtains, then she opened them, then she closed them again? and she says she thinks that’s correct. He says, and there’s no sign that Kristina went through the curtains or tried to grab at them to stop herself from falling, and she says she doesn’t know. It was such a blur. He says, or she’s lying through her damn teeth about the entire thing.

Lois says, Kristina? Sonny’s daughter? That’s who fell? Brook says, it was horrible. At first, everything was completely normal, and all of a sudden, there was this loud noise of glass breaking and a woman screaming and then Kristina in the pool just not moving. Lois says, but she’s pregnant. She’s in her last trimester. Brook says she knows. And yeah, the fall was horrible and shocking, but she didn’t know who it was until Josslyn turned her over. It’s not just Kristina. It’s the baby too. They fell at least three stories. Lois asks if they know how badly she’s hurt, and Brook says, there was no way to tell. Josslyn was terrific and Gio helped her. Josslyn was holding Kristina up in the pool, when Gio went to get the backboard. Then they maneuvered her out of the pool. She wanted to help, but all she could do was call 911. Lois says, that was the best thing she could have done, and Brook says, Blaze was going out of her mind. Her mother had to hold her back. Then the paramedics came, and they were preparing Kristina for transport. Josslyn rode with her in the ambulance. Kristina was still unconscious when they left. Lois says, poor Sonny. He said he wasn’t in a good place. When he gets this news, he’ll be out of his mind. Brook asks, what happened with her and Sonny? but Lois says, that doesn’t matter now. Brook says, Lois just told her that Sonny said he wasn’t in a good place, which implies, A, she was with him, and B, they were having a relatively serious conversation. Lois says, they were, and Brook says, about? Lois tells her that she and Sonny are old friends. They talk about all kinds of things. Brook says, Lois is doing backflips not to give her a straight answer, which leads her to believe that Lois and Uncle Sonny were talking about her, weren’t they?

Sonny says, Gio called him and said Kristina was in some kind of accident. What happened? Alexis says, Josslyn was there, and Natalia says, Josslyn saved her life. Kristina fell out of a window from several stories up. She fell into the pool and Josslyn jumped in right after her and put her on a backboard to stabilize her spine in case she had injuries, then stayed with her until the paramedics came. (I wonder why Natalia is answering for Josslyn.) Alexis thanks Josslyn and says, they’re very grateful. Josslyn says she’s just happy she was able to help in any way. But she rode in the ambulance with Kristina. She woke up for a second and asked about the baby and asked for them. She just told Kristina that they were on their way to the hospital, and that the doctors would help her and the baby, and that they’d be here. She just tried to ease Kristina’s mind as best she could. Dr. Park comes out, and Sonny asks, how’s our daughter?

Trina tells Gio that Ava’s always been a good friend to her. Ava is her mentor. Working at her gallery is the reason she got the invitation to study at the Sorbonne. (And we all know how that turned out.) He says, that’s a big deal, and she says she knows Ava isn’t a saint. Ava can be pretty tough, and she’s done some bad things, and she’s not excusing any of that. He says, but she sees a different side to her, and Trina says, yeah. They’ve been through some pretty difficult things and Ava’s always had her back. Ava’s always been there for her. She’s had her doubts about Ava, but sticks up for her because she feels that Ava is more than the mistakes she’s made in the past. He says, but now… and she says, but now – she looks up at the window – maybe she was right to doubt Ava. Maybe she’s everything everybody says she is… or worse.

Ava says, this is preposterous. What does it matter if the curtains were open or closed? Dantes says, it means she’s lying about something. It means she’s trying to hide something. She asks what exactly he’s accusing her of, and he says, she can figure it out, can’t she? She says, everything happened just the way she said it did. This is her hotel suite. Kristina showed up here to confront her. She was angry. She was out of control. He says, that’s one of the parts where she loses him. She’s talking about someone who doesn’t have a violent bone in her body coming at her and attacking her, putting herself and her unborn child in jeopardy. She tells him that she didn’t say it was rational. Kristina was unhinged. Just like her father. He goes over to the shoes and says, this is what she tripped over, huh? and Ava says, yeah. He says, she’s telling him that Kristina flew out this window with such force, breaking a hotel window, from a pair of shoes? He’s not buying it. She says she doesn’t know what to tell him. Like he said, Kristina is very pregnant. Maybe she’s not so light on her feet. Kristina came rushing at her and she tripped. She did not touch Kristina. In fact, everything that happened here is of Kristina’s own doing. He says he guesses that’s one possibility. The other is that she assaulted Kristina. He takes out his handcuffs and says, now she’s lying about it. She says she did no such thing. He’s arresting her? He puts the cuffs on her and asks what it looks like. She says, this is ridiculous. She’s innocent. He says, she’d better hope Kristina and her baby make it alive or she’s going to be facing two murder charges. That’s if she makes it that far. She’s under arrest. She has the right to remain silent… etc., etc., etc.

Lois says she had questions about the origin of the money Sonny plans to invest in the record company, and Brook says, questions. Lois says, more like concerns. She’s not privy to the details, nor does she want to be, but suffice it to say not all of Sonny’s income comes from legitimate sources. Brook says, she actually thinks Uncle Sonny would use mob money to invest in the record label he wants her to run? Lois says she doesn’t know, but she had to be sure, and Brook says, excuse her, but that’s not Lois’s call to make. She’s an adult. She’s a businesswoman and if she has questions about the source of the money Uncle Sonny gives to her or any other investment, she will ask those questions. Lois says, okay, but Brook has a blind spot where Sonny is concerned, and that is her fault. She adores Sonny and raised Brook to adore her Uncle Sonny, and they give him all the benefits of every single doubt. But when it comes to his finances and the compliance with federal law, as much as she wants to trust, she’s got to verify. Brook says, then bring those concerns to her instead of going behind her back to Uncle Sonny, but Lois says she doesn’t see it as going behind Brook’s back. Brook says, be honest. Put herself in Brook’s place. If Grandma Gloria did to her when Lois just did, how would she feel? Lois says she would feel like Gloria went behind her back, but she’d know she did it with love. Brook says, no question, but then she would set appropriate boundaries, would she not? Lois says, yes, and Brook thanks her and says, that’s all she’s asking, for Lois to respect her and her judgment as a businesswoman. Lois says, understood, but as much as Brook is an adult, she wants Brook to respect the fact that she’s always going to be her little girl and she’s always going to look out for Brook’s best interests. Brooks says she knows Lois will. She knows Kristina is probably feeling… If anything happens to Kristina and that baby… Lois suggests they not jump to any conclusions. Kristina is a very strong woman and she’s sure the baby is strong as well. Brook says, she didn’t see how pale and still Kristina was. She’s been carrying that baby for nearly nine months. It would be cruel for something to go wrong now. Lois says, let’s pray that it doesn’t, okay? and they hug.

Dr. Park tells Sonny that his daughter suffered multiple internal injuries from the fall, causing severe hemorrhaging. Kristina has gone into hypovolemic shock. The baby is in fetal distress and the placenta is separating from the uterus, which is the baby’s lifeline. We see them prepping Kristina, and Dr. Park says, they’re going to take her to the OR for an emergency C-section. We see Kristina hooked up to machines and wearing an oxygen mask.

On Monday, TJ tells Jordan, whatever happens, it’s her fault; Josslyn tells Dex, that second could have made all the difference; Anna asks if Trina noticed anything after Kristina fell; and Sonny says, they will pay.

🏨 Showdown At the MetroCourt…

Excellent scene and spectacular fall.

Exclusive: General Hospital’s Kate Mansi On The Ava/Kristina Showdown

💐 And Many More…

I love Scotty, and he’s so funny IRL too. I only wish GH would recognize what a gem of a couple they have in him and Obrecht.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kin-shriners-special-anniversary-message-to-fans

🍊 Shannon’s Shade Is Leaking…

I wonder who the disgusting friend is. There are so many choices.

RHOC Star Tamra Judge Leaks Text Messages After Shannon Shaded Her for Quitting ‘Tres Amigas’ Show, Calls Shannon and Vicki “Dumb and Dumber” and Addresses Another Reason She Quit

💰 Jumping On Josh’s Coattails…

She could do worse. I’d actually love to see this.

Does Gina Kirschenheiter Plan To Work in Real Estate With Josh Altman?

⚔️ A House Divided Must Reboot…

Now On Display is going to be stuck in my head for God only knows how long.

Melissa Gorga Says She’s Done “Tip-Toeing” With Teresa Giudice, “Relieved” RHONJ Season 14 is Over Amid Cast Divide, and Admits Reboot Would Be “Bittersweet”

🦄 And a Black Swan In a Rosé Tree…

Of course she’s nice. Was there ever any question?

Vanderpump Rules Star Scheana Shay Dishes on Unseen Fight, Reveals Closest Friends, and What Lisa Vanderpump is Really Like

🐦‍🔥 Complicated Things…

Loved her first reality show and I’m hoping this one has the same outlook. It left you feeling good instead of like you wanted to punch someone.

Denise Richards Unites With Fellow Charlie Sheen Ex Brooke Mueller While Filming New Reality Show

🦌 Reindeer Games Continue…

This is just stupid. And like she’s really making her case for being a sane person who’s done no wrong. She’s literally scary.

https://ew.com/baby-reindeer-richard-gadd-responds-fiona-harvey-lawsuit-8686363

https://ew.com/netflix-concedes-alleged-baby-reindeer-real-life-martha-not-convicted-stalker-8687694

🎭 Next Stop For the Telephone Booth…

I’d love to see this. I saw John Glover in Waiting for Godot years ago. Too bad Broadway is so damn expensive. And don’t get me started on the cost of transportation.

https://ew.com/bill-and-ted-stars-keanu-reeves-and-alex-winter-reunite-broadway-8687596

🦸🏻‍♂️ Blowing Collective Minds…

I’m going to see it this weekend. I can’t wait!

https://ew.com/deadpool-wolverine-elektra-blade-gambit-x-23-action-scene-breakdown-exclusive-8687405

If you’re a superhero supernerd and need all the background.

https://ew.com/how-to-watch-x-men-movies-in-order-8683590

Best variants ever.

https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/dogpool-catpool-mousepool-infinity-comics-marvel-unlimited

🦓 Quadruple the Stripes…

A precious quartet.

https://people.com/disney-world-welcomes-4-baby-zebras-animal-kingdom-park-8683181

🥒 And If He Plays Ball…

Love, love, love the name. It goes without saying he’s cute.

https://people.com/demi-lovato-new-dog-pickle-with-fiance-jutes-instagram-photos-8685696

🥁 Quotes of the Week

Darth Vader polling higher than all potential 2016 candidates. – The Washington Post, analyzing polls on what Americans thought of their options for the next president in 2016.

Take your camera and your selfie stick and your dog and get the f*** out of here. – Rita, Neighborhood Wars

Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so intensely. – Percy Colson

A lifetime isn’t forever, so take the first chance, don’t wait for the second one! Because sometimes, there aren’t second chances! And if it turns out to be a mistake? So what! This is life! A whole bunch of mistakes! But if you never get a second chance at something you didn’t take a first chance at? That’s true failure. – C. JoyBell C.

To handle yourself use your head; to handle others, use your heart. – Eleanor Roosevelt

No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it. – George Washington Carver

I’ve learned to never say never because when you say never, it happens. – Olivia Plath, Welcome to Plathville (Truth! This has happened to me more than once.)

Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty. – Thomas S. Monson

We are all ordinary. We are all boring. We are all spectacular. We are all shy. We are all bold. We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day. – Brad Meltzer

Sh*t doesn’t get real until it’s real, and it’s real. – Gina Kirschenheiter, Real Housewives of Orange County

⛺️ Sing Around the Campfire…

Enjoy what life holds for you over the weekend – be it rowing down the stream or streaming – and join me on Monday for soap and Med antics. Until then, stay safe, stay practicing wildfire prevention, and stay not going behind someone’s back, even if it’s with love.

Jun28

June 27, 2024 – Finn Says Goodbye To Violet, Words From His Co-Workers, Just No, Better For You, Riders, Pet (!) Safety & Wake Me

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Carly thanks Diane for coming over so quickly, and Diane says, it sounded urgent. Carly says she needs Diane to keep her out of prison.

At the new apartment, Josslyn opens the door to Dex.

Violet runs to Finn, and he asks if she had fun sleeping over. She asks, how is he? Is he feeling better?

Sam comes home, and tells Dante that Scout was nervous in the car, but when they got there, she couldn’t wait for the sleepover. She wants to make sure Danny won’t hear their conversation, and starts to check on him upstairs, but Dante says, Jason came and picked Danny up. She asks where they went.

Walking into the garage, Jason says, sorry the gym was closed, but Danny says, this is way better than working out. They go over to Jason’s bike, and Jason asks if Danny is sure he’s ready do this. Danny says, oh yeah.

Dante tells Sam that Jason was taking Danny to the gym, and Danny was stoked. He thought it would be okay with her. Was he wrong? She says, yes, but he couldn’t have known what was going on. He asks what he’s missing, and she says, Spinelli found out what the FBI is holding over Jason. Jason stayed away all this time because the Feds have evidence against Carly.

Jason says, the most important thing is safety. Not just for kids, for everybody. If he needs to know something, ask. He tells Danny that he does his own maintenance. It’s important in case you get stuck. Danny says, especially if someone is after you. Did Jason’s father teach him? Jason says, Alan? Not that he recalls. He fixed people, not machines. Danny asks when he learned, and Jason says, after his accident.

Carly tells Diane, when Sonny was in Nixon Falls and everyone but Nina thought he was dead, she went meeting with the Five Families and claimed to be head of Sonny’s organization. Diane says, no judgement, but why did she do that? and Carly says, Cyrus was trying to take over Sonny’s territory so he could pass a highly addictive narcotic through Port Charles. It was the same drug Sasha got hooked on. Diane says, it wasn’t just civic altruism, and Carly says, there was a threat to her family that was business related. Someone at the meeting was wearing a wire, and the FBI has an audio file of her committing RICO violations. Diane asks how she became aware of it, and Carly says, a reliable source hacked into their database and retrieved the file. Diane says, good. Another felony. She doesn’t want to know the source, but asks why they were doing a deep dive into the database in the first place.

Finn tells Violet not to ever worry about him, and she asks how his cut is. Did he have to go to the hospital? He says his hand is fine. He just needed a bandage. She says, there was a lot of blood, and he says he knows, but it looked worse than it was. Violet asks if they can go home now, and he says he’d love to, but she’s going to stay with Uncle Chase for a while longer. She says she wants to come home, and he says, that’s what he wants too, but he’s not going home. He’s going away. She says, he has to take her with him, but he says, it’s just for a little while. She says she doesn’t care and wants to come, but he says, she can’t go where he’s going. Daddy is sick. His hand is better, but his head and heart… He cries and says he was so sad after grandpa died, he started drinking alcohol and never should done that. That’s why he fell asleep on the floor. Violet says, can’t he stop? and he says, some people can stop. He thought he was one of them, but he was wrong. He needs to go to a special hospital where they’re going to help him stop for good. She asks, how long he’ll be gone, and he says, the doctor says three months. She says, that’s a long time. Does he really have to go? He says he does, and she says, but she can help him stop.

Josslyn asks what Dex is doing here, and he says he wanted to look at her new place. She asks how he found it, and he says he used his sharp detective skills. She said it was above the Quartermaines’ garage, so he followed that lead. She says, hidden in plain sight. She wonders how he got past the gate, and he says, it was open. He thinks someone is visiting. She tells him that he needs better detective skills, and he says he’s still learning. He knows moving is a pain, so he brought provisions. He holds up a bag from Bobbie’s, and says he brought enough for Trina. She says, Trina is taking care of her Aunt Stella, who is sick, and he asks if she needs help. She says, yes, and asks him to come in. She’s finished cleaning, but needs help moving something that’s not heavy, but awkward. Dex says, it’s nice to have another set of hands, and they move a box that not awkward at all and looks like she could have moved it herself.

Violet says, if she helps Finn, he can stay with her, and Finn says he doesn’t want to leave her ever, but if he doesn’t go, he won’t get better. What happened can never happen again. He’s sorry. She must have been afraid when she found him. She says she thought he was dead like grandpa, and he says he’s sorry. He’s proud of her for calling Tracy and getting help. It was the absolutely right thing to do. Violet cries and says she wants to take care of him, but he says, that’s not the way it’s supposed to be. He should be taking care of her. She says, they can take care of each other, and he says, they’re good at that, but he has to be able to, and right now he’s not. That’s why he has to go away, so he can come back and be the best dad, a dad she deserves. He made a terrible mistake and none of it is her fault. She’s perfect and he loves her so much, more than life itself. They hug and everyone in the room is crying.

Jason tells Danny that he was worried about AJ drinking and driving, so he got in the car with him. The car crashed, and the next thing he knew… the first thing he knew was, he didn’t know anybody. Not his family, his name, nothing. Danny says, that must have been hard, and Jason asks if he knows what TBI is. Danny says, traumatic brain injury, and Jason says, that’s what he had. Danny says, mom told him that Jason is drawn to danger and that’s why he does dangerous jobs. Jason says, he’s done dangerous work that he can’t talk about, but mom doesn’t want Danny to get hurt. He suggests they get back to the bike, and Danny asks if it’s hard to learn to ride. Jason says he wasn’t a natural, but it wasn’t hard to learn. He loved it from the start.

Carly tells Diane that she wasn’t involved with getting the file. Someone brought it to her. Diane asks if she’s being blackmailed, but Carly says she’s not. Jason is. It’s the reason he lost 3 years with his family. The FBI threatened to charge her if he didn’t become an informant, and she has it on good authority that they won’t honor the deal. Diane asks if she’s sure the authority is legit, and Carly says, if anyone would know, he would, and he said when Jason was no longer of use to the FBI, they’ll charge her anyway. Diane says she can’t disagree, and Carly says, why should Jason spend one more day under the FBI’s thumb. She wants to call their bluff. Let them charge her and they’ll fight it in court. She needs to know, what are her chances of being acquitted?

Diane asks if Carly actually conducted mob business. Did she make any illegal money transfers? Did she launder money? Did she transfer illegal or stolen goods? Carly says, no, to all of it, and Diane asks if her name is on any incriminating documents. Carly says she doesn’t think so, and Diane asks if anyone at the meeting would be willing to testify against her. Who was at the meeting? Carly says, Cyrus Renault and Selina Wu. Vincent Novak and Charles Buscema are dead. If anyone testified, they wouldn’t be long for this world. Diane asks if the FBI has the sole audio file, and Carly asks what she’s thinking. Diane says, in this age of deep fakes and digital trickery, the chain of custody of the evidence is essential. The FBI would have to produce the original file to prove it’s not altered. Carly says, her source said the file couldn’t be altered or deleted. Where does that leave her? Diane says, given her and Sonny’s long history with the Feds and her recent dust up with the SEC, she thinks the FBI might have a strong case.

Josslyn asks what Dex learned in school today, and he says, they’re doing de-escalation training. He bets that make civilian courses. She asks if he’s suggesting she take one, but he says, no. He loves how she never backs down from a fight. Don’t lose that. She asks what he learned, and he says, each situation is different. It’s a judgement call every time. Sometimes you have to rush in and act fast, but most of the time, you’re better served to take a step back and see what happens before you do something you can’t take back. She says she’s learning that herself. She’s done a few things recently that she wishes she could take back. He says him too.

Danny thanks Jason for letting him help change the oil, but Jason says, he helped Danny. Danny did the work. Danny asks when Jason is going to teach him to ride.

Sam tells Dante about the recording of Carly meeting with the Five Families, and how it’s being held over Jason’s head. He asks if she realizes what she’s done. Forget Carly. She breached and FBI file; it’s a federal crime. If she’s caught, she’ll go to prison. Sam says, the hack was bulletproof, but Dante asks if she doesn’t think they can trace it back to Spinelli. Who else knows? She says, Spinelli, Carly, and now him, and he says, now he’s an accessory. She can’t tell anyone. If the FBI finds out about Spinelli hacking their database at her request, she’ll be taken away from her kids.

Chase says, they should get going, and Finn says, Violet is going to have so much fun. He’ll be back before she knows it. She says she’ll miss him, and he says he’ll miss her. She tries to put a friendship bracelet on him, but it doesn’t fit, so he puts it in his shirt pocket and says he’s going to put it next to his heart and keep it there always. He loves her. She says she loves him too, and he and Chase go to the door. Chase opens it, and Finn blows Violet a kiss. She catches it, and they leave. Violet cries, and Brook hugs her.

Dex says, it’s a great place, and Josslyn says she lucked out. He says he used to think about someday helping her move out of the dorm and into his place, and she says, her too. He says he enjoyed dinner, and she says her too. He says, hypothetically of course (🍷), what would it take for them to get back to where they were before? and she says, before what? He says, before he told her that he was willing to kill someone for Sonny.

Chase pulls up to Sky Meadow Lodge, and Finn thanks him for letting him say goodbye to Violet. He knows it went against the restraining order. Chase says, what he did wasn’t about the restraining order. Finn needed to see Violet before he left. Finn says he’s sorry about the things he said to Chase and Brook. The things he said to Elizabeth, he can’t forgive himself, and the worst of it was that he passed out and scared his little girl. Chase says, it could have been worse, and Finn says, only Chase could find a silver lining in this. Chase says, a lot of people take a restraining order as a challenge and show up anyway. The number of domestic disturbances he’s had to break up… Kids see knock down drag outs with their parents, and he’s seen the looks on their faces as the parents are taken away. He thanks Finn for not putting Violet in the middle and making it worse for his daughter. Finn says he heard Violet thought he was dead and left her forever. How could he do that to her? Chase says, because he has an illness. That’s why he’s going away, to get well. Finn says, his kid brother, and Chase says he’s been grown up for a while now. Finn says, this is different. Now Chase is coming to his rescue. Chase says that’s just because he’s a nice guy, and Finn thanks him for taking care of his little girl. Chase says he’s Finn’s brother, and Finn says, he did the right thing. He knows Chase was trying to protect Violet, and he’ll always be grateful for that.

Danny says he hears it’s easier than riding a bike, but Jason says, they’ll have to ask his mom first. Danny says, he was just kidding, yet kinda hoping, and Jason says, maybe next time, if mom agrees. Danny says he doesn’t see that happening, and Jason says, there are other things to do. Danny says, like what? and Jason says, they’ll figure it out. He’s seen Danny can do anything he sets his mind to. Danny says, tell that to his algebra teacher, and Jason asks if he needs help with math. Danny asks if Jason is good at math, and Jason says he uses it in his job. Danny asks if Jason shoots hoops, but Jason says he hasn’t for a while.  

Sam says, Spinelli covered their tracks flawlessly, but Dante says, Cates knows Spinelli after what happened when he was shot. Sam says, it would be impossible to prove, and Dante says, they broke federal laws. That’s exactly why he didn’t want her to get involved. She says she needed to know what they had on Jason, and he asks if she’d rather stay with her kids or have them visit her in prison. She says, stay with her kids, and he says, then she’s got to leave it alone. Talk to no one, and whatever she found out, leave it alone, act like it never happened, and hope it doesn’t come out.

Chase tells Finn not to worry. He and Brook will take great care of Violet. Finn says he knows. Tell her every day that he loves her, and he’ll be back as soon as he can. Chase says, that’s what they all want, but no shortcuts. Don’t convince himself he’s got it handled or just had a slip. Finn says, it’s not his first rodeo, and Chase says, if he’s in doubt, think of how devastated Violet would be to be put through this again, and stop. Finn says, he’ll do it for Violet, but it’s not easy, and Chase says, the best thing he can do is get well for his child. Finn says, Chase is a good cop, and Chase wonders what that has to do with it. Finn says he knows Chase has seen stuff, and Chase says, it comes with the job. Finn says, but he still wants to help. It’s a quality he admires.

Brook brings Violet a snack, but she says she’s not hungry, so Brook puts it on the coffee table. She asks if Violet has any questions, and Violet says, her dad is going to a hospital. Will he be in bed? Will he be able to watch TV? Will people be nice to him? Brook says, it’s beautiful there. He won’t want to stay in bed or watch TV. He’s going to hike and swim, and the people there are kind. They’re going to help him learn how not to drink. Violet asks if it’s like camp, and Brook says, kinda like camp. Violet says, camp is fun. If her dad is away, what is she going to do? Brook says, there’s so much to do here. Name it. Violet says she’d like to go swimming, and Brook says, Uncle Chase said he’d teach her to ride a bike. Violet says, and he told her that she’s almost ready to ditch her training wheels. She’d also like to go horse riding. Brook says, coincidentally, they have a whole stable of horses. Violet knows some of them, but Brook knows the rest will love to meet her.

Josslyn tells Dex that she doesn’t know how they can put it behind them. There are people she cares about who have crossed that line, but what’s important is that he didn’t. When she told him at dinner that he didn’t have to prove anything, that he’d done good enough to redeem himself, she meant it. She thought he’d joined the PCPD for her – she knows how to make about her – but she sees he did it for himself. The longer he’s there, the more she sees that’s where he wants to be. Did she get it right? He says, 100%, and she says, then she’s happy for him. He says, to be clear, if being a cop impressed or pleased her, he’s good with that.

Dante says, Sam knows He’s right. He’s just trying to help. She says, knowing that Jason did this to save Carly… She’d thought that maybe for once he’d put his kids first, but Carly is his first priority. Always has been and always will be. Nothing else matters. If Danny knew that, it would break his heart. Dante says, she needs to make sure he never knows.

Diane says, the FBI’s case rests solely on Carly’s admission that she was head of the Corinthos organization. Even if it was just as a figurehead, it will land her in hot water, but she had a compelling reason. She walked into a room of known crime figures, pretending to be one of them, to protect her children. Carly says she was terrified, and Diane says she knows from experience how compelling Carly is as a witness and how she can play to a jury. Even with Diane’s skills, knowledge of the law, and tricky tricks, she thinks the best they can hope for is a 30% chance of acquittal. Carly says, that means there’s a 70% chance of her going to federal prison, and Diane says she doesn’t like those odds, for Carly or for Donna.

Sam leaves a message for Spinelli, and tells him, the case they’re working on, don’t do anything until he hears back from her. Danny and Jason come in, and Dante asks, how was the gym? Danny says, it was closed. They went to the garage instead and tuned up Jason’s bike. He changed the oil. Dante says, those are awesome skills to have, and Jason says he should get going. He leaves, and Sam says, it sounds like Danny had a good time. Danny says, he did. Jason is the best. He tells Dante, no offense, and Dante says, none taken. Danny goes upstairs, and Dante hugs Sam.  

Carly tells Diane that she doesn’t know how she can leave Donna with the way Sonny is acting. But it’s not fair for Jason to be under the FBI’s thumb. Diane says, Jason doesn’t need saving. Let him do whatever he’s doing, He’s capable and strategy is his thing. If Carly’s got a plan to rush in and save him, historically, how has that worked? Whatever arrangement he has going, has kept her out of prison so far. Carly says she doesn’t know for how much longer and wants to be prepared. Can they work on a defense just in case? Diane says she can work on one. She tells Carly to sit tight, and leaves.

Dex tells Josslyn that he has an early morning. Her? Josslyn says she lucked out. she has nothing tomorrow morning. Are the cadets running in the park? He says, always, and she says, maybe she’ll see him there. They leave together.

Violet says, it’s a big house, and Brook asks if she just noticed. Violet says, it’s different when she stays over. She could get lost. Brook is lucky she used to live here. Brook says, the best part is the people who live here, her family. And the greatest part of family is that when you’re sick or in trouble, the rest step up and help out. Violet says, like they’re helping her dad, and Brook says, Violet is helping him too. She’s being very brave. Violet says, it’s easy when you’ve got help, and Brook says, they’re glad to help. That’s what family is for. Violet says she’s glad they’re family, and Brook says her too. She hugs Violet.

Finn says, it’s time to do this, and Chase says, he’ll walk Finn in, but Finn says he’s got it from here. It’s not like he can make a break for it. Chase says he’s not worried, and Finn says, Chase is a lousy liar. Promise to look after Violet, give her a kiss, and tell her that he loves her. Chase says, she knows that, but he will, and Finn says he loves Chase. Chase says he loves Finn too, and Finn says, dad would be proud. Chase says, dad would be proud of Finn taking this step, and Finn says, there’s no point in stalling any longer. Chase says, on the count of three, and Finn says, one… Chase says, two… and with tears in his eyes, Finn gets out of the car. Chase watches him as he goes to the door, hesitates, then walks inside. Chase pounds on the steering wheel, puts on his seatbelt, and drives away.

Tomorrow, Brook asks what Chase thinks of Tracy’s idea; Blaze asks if Kristina is saying she’s going after custody of the baby; and Jason says, everything he did to protect Carly means nothing.

🧂 Rubbing Salt In the Wound…

I still can’t believe this. It’s an outrage.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-stars-say-goodbye-to-michael-easton

👠 If You Have the Stomach For It…

Honestly, I don’t think we need this. Not that I wouldn’t want to smash a glass on most of their heads, but because of disloyalty to hairstylists? What?

https://people.com/rhonj-danielle-cabral-condemns-violence-does-not-apologize-for-smashing-cup-on-jennifer-aydin-8385973

RHONJ’s Jennifer Aydin Reveals New Details of Fight With Danielle, Plus Danielle’s Former Hair Stylist Talks Recent Run-In With Her and Slams Her as “Delusional”

On the upside.

Tamra Judge Praises Joe Gorga for Making ‘Amazing TV’

💐 A Healthier Reality…

I’m not sure how fabulous her life is, but she travels more than I do. This is a kinder, gentler, but still very real, reality show.

https://www.etonline.com/my-big-fat-fabulous-life-first-look-whitney-meets-the-man-she-thinks-shell-marry-exclusive-227160

This one is kind of weird, but I can’t turn away. There’s a lot of angst, but no throwing of Solo cups.

https://www.etonline.com/welcome-to-plathville-season-6-trailer-shows-ethan-and-olivia-plath-dating-other-people-after

🚴 Get On Your Bike and Ride…

This seems like a film worth seeing. Very grindhouse.

https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/norman-reedus-filthy-the-bikeriders-specifically-related-walking-dead-daryl-dixon

https://www.themarysue.com/jeff-nichols-interview-the-bikeriders/

🎆 It’s Almost Here…

✈️ Touching the Sky…

Join me tomorrow for soap and the usual Friday festivities. Until then, stay safe, stay not assuming everyone speaks English when traveling to faraway places, and stay knowing when you have to act fast or when you’re better served to take a step back before doing something you can’t take back.

Apr9

April 8, 2024 – GH Eclipsed, Drop Dead Gorgeous Blond Australian Stew On Deck, Poor Ant, At the Villa, Arguing Already, Farewell Too Soon, He Will Finish, Behold the Echidna & Total

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Not today, eclipse.

GENERAL HOSPITAL Is Preempted on Monday

Below Deck

Fraser thinks Anthony bit off more than he can chew, and he’s worried the chef is not quite there yet. Jill badgers Fraser about the dinner start time, and I already want to smack her. Anthony tells Fraser that he’ll try to make the magic happen. In Barbie’s interview, she says she’s taking the brunt and giving a fake-ass bullsh*t smile that she doesn’t feel. She’s not a complainer. The captain joins the guests for dinner, and Fraser asks for the primary’s dinner preferences first. As Melinda tries to tell him, Jill butts in since she thinks she’s a primary. Anthony tells Fraser that instead one main course, he has to make three different main dishes at the same moment. He can’t build all the plates at the same time. Guest Jen ends up without a plate, but she tells the others not to wait. Jill says her food is cold, and Fraser says, it’s the worst day of his life. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, this is the worst dinner service all season, but if he looks pissed, the others will get pissed. To top it off, we have Jill. In Dylan’s interview, he says, when he was growing up, no one told him that he was good looking. Now he gets hit on by guys and girls. He tells Ben about dating a guest, and in his interview, he says he likes the hunt. When he sees a hot girl at the bar, he does pushups and asks, what’s going on baby? Seriously? I don’t care how hot he is. No, just no. The guests finish eating, but dessert isn’t ready, and Fraser says, they have to kill 20 minutes. The stews make up a concoction of rum and almond milk, with a touch of strawberry. The captain tells the guests about meeting his girlfriend on a ship, when the French chocolate souffle comes out. IMO, it’s well worth waiting for. Fraser says, Barbie seems quiet, and she says her fake smile only lasts so long. In the captain’s interview, he says he needs to talk to Anthony after the charter. There’s no use doing it now.

Fraser tells Xandi that tomorrow is going to be the sh*ttiest night. Everyone is so sensitive, the energy is horrific, and they have no stew. Barbie sees Xandi and Fraser talking and tells Kyle that Xandi is talking sh*t about her. In Anthony’s interview, he says, dinner was disappointing. He doesn’t want to be on charter. He wants to run in his room and cry all night. Ben talks about choosing lead deckhand to Fraser, and says, Dylan is like a puppy, interested in everything, but Sunny knows the boat. On the minus side, obviously they’re sleeping together. In Ben’s interview, he says, on paper, Dylan is fantastic, but Sunny works well with the crew and he can rely on her. He has to assess their strengths and weaknesses. Fraser tells him that the person who puts the most effort in needs it. Barbie sighs as she works, looks in the laundry, and says, f*** you. I’m not helping. Stupid-ass bitch. Nice.

In Sunny’s interview, she says she wants to love and connect. She wants to feel feelings. She’s got butterflies over Ben (ick). Captain Kerry gets a text that a new stew is arriving. Anchor is in the pocket and the yacht is en route to Port Louis Marina. Xandi says, this trip might kill her, and in Barbie’s interview, she says she’s ignoring Fraser. She doesn’t know how to communicate with him. He dismisses what she feels, and she can’t win. She can’t be herself and feels defeated. Ben and Sunny are called to the bridge, and the captain says, today is windier. In his interview, he says, the wind is at over 30 knots. The last time he was in this kind of wind, he lost the bow. If anything goes wrong, he’s going to smash into the dock and hit a concrete bank. Fraser wonders why Barbie is ignoring him, and in the captain’s interview, he says, the wind is coming in and there are two steel workboats to the side. If the wind doesn’t back down, he’s going to hit them. It’s a very difficult docking. The wind is holding him off. Jill says, he’s in trouble, because she knows all about being a captain and docking a massive yacht.

Jill says, blah-blah-blah, and Melinda says, this is giving her anxiety. I’m not sure if she means the docking or Jill babbling about it. Captain Kerry manages to dock the boat without incident, and the crew change into their whites. To their happiness, the guests pack. In Fraser’s interview, he says he’s never wanted anything more than to drop these guests in the sh*tter. He’s done. Fraser tells Barbie, well done, and Jill says she’s so sad. She hates this part. They had fun and she hopes she wasn’t too much work. 😐 Melinda thanks the crew, and says, it’s the best vacation ever. The deck crew was flawless, and she knows they were the hardest to cook for with all their different preference. She gives the captain the tip envelope, and they finally leave the crew in peace. Captain Kerry says, that was a fun charter. He’s cracking a beer now. Fraser asks Barbie, what’s happening? and she says, nothing. Kerry calls Anthony to the headmaster’s office. He says he’s going to tell Anthony straight. Dinner service was bullsh*t. His food was cold and two guests were without food. What the f*** was going on? Anthony says he was looking for the best solution for the guests to find dinner amazing. He’s upset with himself. Captain Kerry says he shouldn’t have kicked off with sushi and been laser focused on one guest, and in Anthony’s interview, he says he failed this one. It reminds him of bad moments when he was younger. He was called a loser at school and sees the teacher in his head. Born a loser and dies like a loser. I feel badly for him, but not too dramatic. The captain tells him to do the stuff he can do with his eyes closed. Fraser tells Barbie that she seems off, and she says, it’s an off day. He says, when it’s aimed at him, he thinks she’s in a bad mood and it’s not conducive to the team. She says she went to bed pissed and woke up pissed. He could have told her that he and Xandi were going to the beach to meditate. He says, it’s not like they were chilling, and she wasn’t talking yesterday. She says she’s scared to communicate with him, and he says he can’t deal with it. She says she’s flipped the switch back, so it’s good now.

It’s time for the tip meeting, and Captain Kerry says, it feels like they’ve gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson. His hat’s off to them. The tip is $20K or $1667 each. We hear crickets, and in Kyle’s interview, he says, it’s the worst tip they’ve gotten, but it’s still a lot of money. His mom recently found out they have a Native American heritage and a huge extended family in Montana. He’s going to spend a couple years there, and it will be nice if he can support himself. The captain says, they have tomorrow off, and they’re heading to a resort. The new stew is arriving tonight and will meet them at dinner. In his interview, Fraser says he’s excited. It’s like Christmas has come early. The captain says, the new stew’s first day is a day off. He’ll drink to that. Ben says he’s going on a two-day bender. Barbie tells Kyle that she wants to quit, but he says, mama didn’t raise no quitter, which is pretty funny to hear with his accent. Anthony says he’s ready to party, but he’s sad inside. He feels people know he made a mistake. He’s trying to stop thinking about it, but it not going to be a great night. Kyle drinks some liquor straight from the bottle and says he’s good to go.

New stew Paris arrives at the restaurant. In their interviews, Ben, Kyle, Anthony, and Sunny all say, wow. In Fraser’s interview, he says he knows who Paris is. She’s the ex of a dear friend. We flash back to two seasons ago, and see Fraser with his friend Jake, who’s talking to Paris on the phone. Fraser says, to him that means she’s gold. He tells the others that he worked with her ex, but this is their first time meeting in person. In Paris’s interview, she says she’s a sailing stew. She’s outgoing, funny, and loves mayonnaise. She says what’s on her mind because she has no serotonin left and regains it though people’s suffering. She laughs and says, that’s not true. She’s not evil. She is Australian though, and in Sunny’s interview, she says she’s definitely jealous. Paris is drop dead gorgeous, blond, and from Australia. She feels a little worried about what Ben thinks. Barbie tells Paris that she looks like she can take it emotionally, which is actually kind of rude. Ben and Kyle talk on the side, mostly about Paris. Paris says she’s had four years’ experience, and Fraser says she must be competent with housekeeping. Anthony tells Barbie that he needs them. He’s alone in his department every day. In her interview, Paris says she started in the Mediterranean, then the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and America. She doesn’t know the dynamics on the boat and it’s like a new school. The crew gets back to the boat, and Paris finds out she’ll be bunking with Xandi. She meets Captain Kerry, who says, everyone is nice, but the captain is an a-hole. Sunny and Ben have sex in the bathroom (ick again), when Barbie asks if Sunny can throw out a tampon. It’s an emergency. Sunny says, they were c*ck blocked so hard. What happened to the tie on the door thing?

In the morning, on the way to the resort, Paris says she lives in the country, and they have two kangaroos. She tells them that the echidna (which kind of looks like a hedgehog – see below) has a four-headed penis. Fun fact! They get to the resort and head for the pool. I’m jealous even though I live near the Atlantic Ocean, one of the biggest pools in the word. I need to get a friend who has a pool or talk one of my existing friends into getting one. Barbie tells Ben that Fraser wants to fire her, while Fraser tells Xandi, in the beginning, Barbie was amazing with her work, but her attitude is feral. Barbie whines to Ben that she doesn’t eat or take breaks, and Fraser tells Xandi that Barbie is talking about him now, because he has bat ears. Barbie tells Fraser that she doesn’t feel like she can talk to him because she works for him, not with him. He says she’s horrible to work with when she’s in a mood, and she asks if Fraser wants her to go, but he says, no. He just wants her to accept that this is the job. She then whines to Paris, and in Paris’s interview, she says, this is awkward. Fraser feels comfortable venting to her, but he’s her boss. She just got here, and she feels like Dr. Phil. Everything can be fixed with conversation, a hug, and tequila. Fraser tells Barbie that if she can’t move on, he can’t, and she says she doesn’t feel safe telling him her feelings. He says, if she doesn’t like it, she can f*** off, and she says, that shows how much she can’t trust him. In her interview, she says, Fraser doesn’t like her even though he likes the way she works. He doesn’t care about her or her feelings. In Fraser’s interview, he says, speak up, bitch. Don’t be passive/aggressive. She tells Fraser that she loves him, but he says she doesn’t act like it. She’s a horrible person when she doesn’t want to speak. She says, he wants her to go, but he says he wants her to understand how this works. If she can do it, fantastic. If she can’t… She says, okay, cool, and they part company. In Anthony’s interview, he says he’s still learning. It’s tricky. The restaurant business is different. There’s a guy for everything, and here, he’s by himself. He promised his younger self that one day he’d be successful, and he has to keep that promise. Sunny wonders if Xandi and Ben could have been a thing, but Xandi says, if he was ten years older. Sunny asks if she likes them old, which would be like 40, and Xandi says she’s done raising people’s husbands, whatever that means. Paris asks Barbie if she’s okay, and Barbie tells Paris that she and Fraser are too different, and they clash. They don’t get each other, and personally trigger each other. Paris thinks there’s a resolution if they communicate, if they if don’t trigger each other’s defensiveness. Barbie says she can’t, and in Paris’s interview, she says she feels Barbie and Fraser are similar and the issues cause both of them to be defensive. They’re also out in the sun drinking, which makes them all drama queens. What started from a small issue has grown into a mole hill. She tells Barbie, if it doesn’t work out, it’s his neck on the line. Fraser tells Ben that he’s done with Barbie. Ben says, what about one more charter? but Fraser isn’t having it. He says, she’s impossible to work with. In his interview, Fraser says, he’s given more chances in the past than he should have, and now he’s not about giving more chances. You show your true colors after two chances. We flash back to Barbie’s first, second, third, and fourth chances, and Fraser says, if it’s not great after the fourth, you’re off. He needs to pull the cord earlier. He tells Ben that he’s done.

Ben hugs Fraser and suggests he sleep on it, and in Ben’s interview, he says he thinks Fraser is taking it too far. The problem is Fraser’s lack of management skills in making people gel. Dylan asks if Paris likes Steve Irwin, and she wonders what kind of question that is. He’s a national treasure. Dylan says he watched Steve while growing up, so it must count for something. Paris says, if he was here, he’d say, crikey, that’s cringe. In her interview, she says, Dylan is gorgeous, but so awkward personality-wise. If he was mute, he’d get more action. Dylan leaves and Ben comes along. Paris asks if he put out the fire, and he puts his hand on her knee. He gets even more handsy, and no surprise, Sunny sees. Xandi says, good God, and Sunny says, sayonara. In Sunny’s interview, she says, Ben touching another woman makes her uncomfortable, jealous, and angry. It’s mad disrespect. Paris tells Fraser that she thinks he and Barbie are upset because they’re similar, but he’s like, no way. Barbie calls her mom as she puts on her makeup and cries. She says she doesn’t want to be here and she’s mad at herself for giving up, but she has to quit. She wants to go home. Fraser tells Paris that he’s supported Barbie and tried it all. He won’t look after someone who speaks to him like she does. She’s a subordinate and he’s the chief. Barbie tells her mom that she can’t get through to him and can’t fix it. She has an amazing life at home and doesn’t need to be with people who don’t understand her and she clashes with so much. She doesn’t like giving up. Fraser tells Paris, welcome to the circus.

Next time, in Sunny’s interview, she says, Ben looks like an a-hole; Sunny tells Ben, it’s not okay; Anthony makes fish for a guest who doesn’t eat fish; Barbie says she’s sorry her and Fraser’s contention affected everybody; and Fraser goes to the captain about Barbie.

⚓️ Atlas Of the Deck…

It’s doubtful he’s carrying the show, but despite his faults, he’s one of the best chefs they’ve had.

How Anthony Iracane Is Carrying Below Deck Season 11

🏰 Viva La Villa…

I started watching this and the venue is magnificent. Not so much the employees who are already drinking too much and arguing in front of the guests. But Lisa is there along with Puffy (!), so all will be well.

Vanderpump Villa Premiere Recap, Episodes 1-3: Welcome to the Lux Life
Vanderpump Villa Episode 4 Recap: Who Is Managing Eric?

🍊 That Didn’t Take Long…

Apparently, Tamra is already causing problems and the horse hasn’t even left the gate yet.

Audio Leaks of Tamra Judge and Shannon Beador Fighting in London

🥀 Sad OC News…

Today’s PSA: Drug responsibly and for the love of all that’s holy, stay away from fentanyl.

https://people.com/real-housewives-lauri-peterson-son-josh-waring-dead-at-35-8627969

https://www.eonline.com/news/1398971/rhoc-alum-lauri-petersons-son-josh-waring-died-amid-addiction-battle-his-sister-says

🐎 Not Done Yet…

They lost me somewhere in season 4. I think it was a big mistake to open things up to the real world so early. Westworld stopped being Westworld and turned into something else.

https://ew.com/jonathan-nolan-still-intends-to-finish-westworld-8624582

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/westworld-season-5-storyline

🦔 Cute But Mighty In Its Own Way…

Behold, the echidna.

https://www.bushheritage.org.au/species/echidna

But wait, there’s more.

https://www.bushheritage.org.au/species/echidna

🌚 Stars Aligning Now…

Join me tomorrow for soap and VanderExploits. Until then, stay safe, stay not leaving puddles around the sink in a public restroom, and stay remembering that everything can be fixed with conversation, a hug, and tequila. And also, that the echidna has a four-headed penis. You’ll be a real hit at parties.

Mar1

February 29, 2023 – Tracy Gives Brook Something Meaningful, Karen, Beyond Soap, Hail Mary Pass, Awful Summer, Splitting, Two Ones, Leap Year, New Puppy (!) & Go Ahead

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

At the boxing gym, Michael says, so this is how it has to be? and Sonny says, he can go ahead and leave. Anybody who’s done what he’s done would have already been gone. Michael says he knows Sonny is angry… but Sonny says, Michael has no idea how he feels, his own son setting him up. Michael says, then he tried to protect Sonny, and Sonny says, from who? Him? Dante suggests Michael take a walk, and Michael makes himself scarce. Sonny says, today sad and remorseful, tomorrow he’s calling the Feds, and Dante says, that’s not how he really is, but Sonny says, no? Michael came very close to handing him over to the Feds with a bow on. He didn’t see that coming. Dante says he didn’t either, but it’s good he didn’t go through with it, right? but Sonny says, the damage is done. He can’t trust Michael now. His own son. So where do they go from there? Dante says, Michael loves him. He just wants to know that Sonny is okay. Sonny says, Judas doesn’t have the right to know anything about him or his life, and Dante says, this is not God’s way. Sonny asks who’s side he’s on.

Dex says he’s sorry. He wishes he could go back to Port Charles with Josslyn, but he has to keep moving and find a way to disappear. Josslyn says, don’t ask her to pretend to be okay with that, and he asks what she wants him to say. Sonny gave him one option that left him breathing. He hates this, but he needs to accept the things he cannot change. She says, really? It still feels like he’s taking Sonny’s orders. He says, if it weren’t for her mom, he’d be dead. Sonny was going to have him killed, just like he always knew Sonny would if he found out the truth. She says, and Dex has been protecting him? but Dex says he started out spying on him. Sonny only gave him the option to leave because her mom wouldn’t back down. The least he owes her is to go. She says, just tell her the truth. Would he rather she hadn’t found him?

Chase asks, what is this? and Brook says she was just coming to find him to explain. He says, the part about a termination event, not exactly a confidence builder. She says, it’s not like that, and Lois says, anyone who isn’t Brook Lynn or Chase needs to get out of here. Let’s give them their privacy. Let them make their own decisions – she looks at Tracy – for a change. Everyone clears out.

Elizabeth says, the Quartermaine lawyers sent Chase a prenup as an email attachment without any warning? That is so wrong. Finn says his dad’s convinced it was a mix-up, and she says, his dad is a very kind and forgiving person who probably doesn’t know the Quartermaines well enough yet. He says, with that family, anything’s possible, and she says, they should have expected a few curveballs. However, to be fair, planning a wedding is unpredictable no matter who the bride and groom are. He says, there’s unpredictable and there’s the Quartermaines, and she says, odds were it was never going to be dull. Speaking of never going to be dull, did he get himself one of these? She takes a card out of her bag, and he says, no. What is it? She says, an invitation… to Violet’s wedding. There are hearts drawn across the top and it says, You are invited to Violet’s wedding. Underneath is a drawing of a groom holding out a bouquet.

Brook tells Chase that she swears on her life, she had no idea the lawyers were drawing up a prenup. She certainly didn’t ask for it. He says, and it’s perfectly understandable if she did. It just would have been nice to have a little heads up. She says, for all of them. They all know who’s behind the prenup email. Her grandmother’s not one for advanced warnings. He says, she already raised the subject. When they told her they were getting engaged, the first thing she said is they should sign a prenup. She says she expected the family lawyers to bring it up eventually, but she thought they would have the decency to talk to her about it first before attaching it to an email and pressing send. He says, all right. Forget about the lawyers, forget about the emails, and the attachments, and her grandmother. She says, if only, and he asks if she, Brook Lynn, wants him to sign the agreement.

Lois says, how could Tracy sic her squad of lawyers on poor Chase? but Tracy says she didn’t. There was a miscommunication between their attorneys, but any thinking person would know there would be a prenuptial agreement in the offing. Lois says, it didn’t seem like Brook or Chase were waiting for it, but this isn’t even about the prenup. This is about how Tracy is insinuating herself into everything. When is she going to stop interfering in Brook’s life?

Brook says she hates how the simple fact that she loves Chase and that she wants to spend the rest of her life with him has turned into something so complicated. He asks if it has to be, and she says, they’re about to make a huge commitment to each other and he’s the only person she cares about, but he’s not exactly her grandmother’s number one priority. He says, that’s fair. Tracy’s not his number one priority either. Brook says, Tracy is just trying to protect the Quartermaines, but it makes her furious, because Tracy should see he’s about to become one of them. She should be welcoming him to the family with open arms. He says, maybe Tracy has a point. As much as he wants to marry Brook, and he does, there are parts of her world he does not understand. She says, those are the parts that are in the fine print, and she doesn’t understand them either, and he says, that’s why they have all the lawyers. When he got that prenup, he flipped out a little, but then he calmed down. He thought about it rationally and he had to admit, there’s a chance they may not make it.

Tracy says, when Lois left Ned and settled back into the outer boroughs, clearly, she forgot what it is to be a Quartermaine, and Lois says, it means paying for a bunch of lawyers, some houses, and referring to Bensonhurst as the Hinterlands. But she’s not referring to Tracy’s precious company or her trust funds. She’s talking about her baby girl, Tracy’s granddaughter, and how all she wants to do is marry the love of her life. Tracy says she’s not stopping them, but Lois says, no. Tracy’s just running in front of her, setting up all these hurdles. It’s supposed to be the happiest day of her life, but instead of Tracy supporting and encouraging that happiness, so far Tracy’s managed to extort Brook into betraying Maxie, browbeat her into taking a job she doesn’t want to do, and running her ragged at that job. And now, she’s trying to control Brook’s wedding and write the fine print of her marriage? Tracy says she’s a grandmother trying to protect her grandchild, and Lois says, Lila was Ned’s grandmother, and Lila couldn’t have been kinder or more loving to her. Instead of ambushing her with a prenup, Lila made her wedding possible. She almost called the whole thing off, if Lila hadn’t offered her wedding dress. On top of that, she gave them a beautiful cruise around Manhattan. Granted, that went a little sideways when they almost drowned in Dead Horse Bay, but her point is, Lila wanted her to have the most beautiful wedding possible and did everything in her power to make that happen. Tracy says she’s not her mother, and she’s well aware that she’ll never measure up. But what she can offer, this family needs, and so does Lois’s daughter. Whether Lois likes it or not, marriage is a contract – Maxie and Gregory walk in – and one interloper can to a hell of a lot of damage. Gregory clears his throat, and Tracy turns around. He says, interloper. What an interesting way to refer to his son.

Dex says, seeing Josslyn again is a gift. It killed him to leave Port Charles without saying goodbye to her. Josslyn says, he didn’t have a choice. Sonny forced him to leave. But nobody is stopping him from coming back to Port Charles. He’s free. He doesn’t work for Sonny anymore. He says he knows better, and she asks if he thinks Sonny would still have him killed. He says he knows so much about Sonny’s organization, he’s a liability, and she says, Sonny can’t touch him, for the same reason he couldn’t kill Dex in the Pine Barrens. Her mom won’t let him. Michael won’t let him. Dante. Too many people know about him. If anything happens to Dex, Sonny knows it will just come right back and bite him, and he’s not going to take that chance. They can beat him. They just have to call his bluff. He says, if he comes back and Sonny does nothing, it makes him look weak, and that puts her whole family at risk. He’s not going to do that to the people she loves, and he sure as hell won’t do it to her.

Dante says he’s on Sonny’s side, but so is Michael. Yeah, he wanted to get evidence to use to incriminate Sonny and he probably got it, but he didn’t do anything with it. So Sonny could say he’s standing here a free man because of Michael. Sonny asks if Dante is saying he should be grateful, but Dante says, no, he’s not at all. Sonny should be hurt and pissed off, and he doesn’t blame Sonny for any of it. But Michael is family, so like it or not, he’ll have to be civil one day. Sonny says he has to be civil? and Dante asks, what’s the alternative? Is Sonny going to walk out of every room Michael walks into? Sonny says, it wasn’t his doing, when Michael comes over to them. He says he’s headed out. Just please be careful. Sonny says, Michael doesn’t get to say that to him, and Michael says, whether Sonny believes it or not, that doesn’t change the fact that he cares about him. And he doesn’t want Sonny to do something he regrets just because of him. John walks in and stares daggers at Sonny.

Gregory says, it looks like this particular conversation is a private family matter, and he should be on his way. He heads for the door, and Lois gestures to Tracy, who follows him. She asks him to wait, and says she’s so sorry for her choice of words. She should have said… He says, outsider? Infiltrator? She says, newcomer, and he says, better. He’s hoping after the wedding that family is the term she chooses to go with. She says she’s seen too much to be anything but a realist. She sincerely hopes her granddaughter and his son have a long and happy marriage, but not all marriages last. And it’s not something you want to think about when you’re ordering flowers and French champagne, but somebody has to. He asks if it would surprise her to hear he agrees.

Lois tells Maxie that she knows Tracy is just trying to do something nice for her granddaughter, and Maxie says, that is a generous interpretation of this prenup. And she applauds the mental gymnastics that got her to stick that landing. Lois thanks her, and Maxie says, but she thinks there’s something Brook wants from Tracy that’s not an uninvited prenup or love based bullying. Lois says she believes Brook is really good at asking for what she wants, but Maxie says she doesn’t know if Brook knows how to ask for this. Lois says, spill it, and Maxie says she thinks Brook wants to wear Lila’s dress.

Brook tells Chase, don’t say we won’t work out. Don’t even think it. He says he’s just being practical. Sometimes, things don’t work out and they should be prepared. He wasn’t when he married Willow, and it nearly crushed him. He thought he worked through the failure of his first marriage, but then he got this prenup and it got him thinking. She says, thank you, Tracy. This is nothing like his wedding to Willow. He has to see that. He says, the rational side of him does, but in that moment, he thought he saw the whole picture when he married Willow. She says, how could he? Him and Sasha, Michael and Willow, they were good people just pretending to be in relationships so they could help each other. He had no idea Willow had stopped pretending and actually fallen in love with Michael. He says, if her feelings changed for him, she wouldn’t spare him, right? She’d tell him the truth even if it hurt him. She says she’ll always tell him the truth and she trusts he’ll forgive her for it. He thanks her, and she says, the point is, by the time Willow was ready to tell him that she actually loved Michael, he was on his deathbed. She thought that marrying him was the right thing to do, and at that point, he was so sick, whatever vows they said to each other, what they were really saying was goodbye. He says he has to admit, he doesn’t remember a lot from that moment in his life, and she says, if he did, he would know there’s no comparison between them now and him and Willow then. Willow felt obligated to him. What they have is real. It is messy and imperfect and real. She has never loved a man the way that she loves him. She can’t wait to marry him. She’s so excited for every single day of their future. But if he’s anxious or having second thoughts… He says, no, not with her, and she says, but if the wedding is too much… He says he cannot wait to celebrate. He cannot wait to see this brilliant, beautiful, amazing girl walk down the aisle and stand with him at the altar. He can’t wait to say their vows in front of their friends and family. He can’t wait to dance with her at the reception. She says she wants that too, and he says, maybe he is a little nervous because he can’t see into the future, but he does know this. He loves her so much. And even through all of their ups and downs, they’ve always wanted the best for each other. She says, that will never change, and he says he just wants to make her happy. He takes the prenup, and starts to sign it, but she says, wait. He finishes signing.

Finn takes the card from Elizabeth and says, Violet’s getting married? She’s seven. They live in the same house. How come he doesn’t know about any of this? She asks if he wants a paper bag to breath into, and he says, it’s not funny. (Yes, it is.) She says, it’s a little funny. It’s early. She’s not even registered yet. He says he doesn’t think she’s helping, and she says she’s sorry. She’s sure it must be a little bit of a shock at first. He says, what does she mean, at first? and she says, this is a totally normal phase. Cameron had like a thousand crushes before he hit first grade. He asks if Cameron ever made wedding invitations for any of them, and she says, no, but he wasn’t as industrious as Violet is. He says, lucky her, and she says, he did have a crush on a cartoon character once. That was weird. (Me too! Pepe Le Pew.) Anyway, kids Violet’s age like to look at the lives around them and model adult behavior. He says, they have been talking a lot about Brook and Chase’s wedding, and she says, yes, so she wanted to have one of her own to better understand it. She doesn’t think he has to worry about meeting the in-laws any time soon. He says, good. He knows he has a few years before Violet dating is a reality, but he’s pretty sure he’s never going to be ready. She says he has time to prepare himself, and he says, thank God. He’s having enough trouble helping Chase with his wedding. She takes Finn’s hand and says, just be there for him. Listen to his questions. It’s pretty much what he already does. It’s not that complicated. He says, it’s the first time in history a wedding has been described as uncomplicated, and she asks if he wants to talk about that. He says, why, if it’s so uncomplicated? and she says, maybe weddings are uncomplicated, but what about their future?

Sonny approaches John, who says he’s just here to work out. That’s it. Sonny says, he calls this keeping his distance? and John says, Sonny’s the one who walked over here. Sonny says, John calls hanging out with his ex-wife and his children keeping his distance? and John says, call it lunch. He likes the burgers at Bobbie’s. Sonny says he knows why John walked into Bobbie’s. He was trying to get information out of Carly. John says he’s stopping Sonny right there. As much as they both hate this, he’s trying to keep Sonny alive. So yeah, he talked to Carly, and he’ll talk to Sonny’s children. And he’ll talk to Sonny’s bodyguards and his housekeepers and his barista and his doorman and his priest. He’ll talk to whomever he wants, whenever he wants, and until Sonny gets jurisdiction over the FBI or dies of shame, there’s nothing Sonny can do to stop him.

Chase says he told Brook, he doesn’t care about the money, and she says she never thought he did, but did he even read this agreement? He says, not every word, but he skimmed it, and she tears it up. She says she loves him, but if he’s going to be her husband, he has to swear to never sign an agreement he hasn’t read. And never take the first offer, okay? He asks what he’d do without her, and kisses her. She says she really does think they should discuss a prenup, but not now, not like this with all of these stressful circumstances and their families in the next room and they have this rack of dresses bearing down on them. He says he hopes she didn’t fall in love with the one she’s wearing. Not that she doesn’t look gorgeous in it, but he doesn’t want to risk the bad luck and he’s already seen it. She says, this is definitely not her dress. She doesn’t even think any of them are. Did he ever see her mother’s wedding gown? He says, no. He’s heard about it though. She says, it was regal and classic and a true one of a kind, but the most important thing about the dress, was that it was her great-grandmother Lila’s. She let Brook’s mother borrow it and the women in her family imbued it with their love and strength. He asks if her mother wouldn’t let her wear the dress, and she says, in a heartbeat, but it’s not hers to offer. It’s Tracy’s and she’s not holding her breath.

Lois tells Maxie, of course (🍷) Brook wants to wear Lila’s dress. It’s so beautiful, she wants to wear that dress again. Maxie says, it really is occasion specific though, and Lois says she wants to make this happen for Brook. So tell her honestly, does Maxie think it will help or hurt if she talks to Tracy? Maxie says, that’s a tough one because Tracy was very sensitive when the topic of the dress came up, but she doesn’t know if Brook would want her to get involved. Lois says, Tracy might just say no because she’s the one asking, and Maxie says, on the other hand, Tracy does love Brook. Lois says, now that she knows, she can’t just sit back. She’s got to make it happen.

Gregory tells Tracy that he’s grown to appreciate the time saving benefits of direct conversation over the past couple of years, which is not to say he’s on board with her approach in this particular case. Tracy says, once again to be clear, the lawyers made the error, and he says, noted. But he does think they should acknowledge the difficulties and uncertainties of marriage. A wedding is a joyous event. There’s no need to pretend that the road ahead will be unbridled bliss. If marriage was easy, it wouldn’t be cause for celebration, would it? Lois comes out and says she’s glad Gregory is still here. They’d like for him to stay, and they promise to behave themselves. Gregory says, don’t stop whatever they’re doing on his account, and Tracy takes his coat. Lois says, shall we? and they go back into the living room. Lois asks who Gregory is going to have on his arm at the wedding, and he says, Alexis Davis. It’s always nice to have a friend at these events. Tracy says, a friend? And he says, yes, a good friend. Which reminds him. He keeps meaning to ask her, who’s lucky enough to be her escort? Tracy says, as a matter of fact, she… Lois says, Tracy hasn’t decided yet. She’s still fighting them off. Gregory says he has no doubt.

Elizabeth says, things between her and Finn have been going so well. It’s not like they’ve had much of a state of the union. He says he’s been thinking the same thing, but he didn’t want to bring it up because she might think something is wrong. She says, understandable, but right now might be a good time. They’re both happy. She’s assuming they’re both happy… she hopes. He says he’s never been happier, and she says, he had her worried there for a second. He says, she has nothing to worry about, and she says, neither does he. But watching Brook and Chase get ready for their wedding, as happy as she is for them… He says, it’s hard not to think about your own relationship. She says, right, and he says he’ll be the one to ask. Is marriage something she thinks about? Is that something she wants?

Dex says, think about it. If Josslyn can find him, so can someone else. She says she found him with Spinelli’s help. That’s like getting help from the CIA. Not just anybody is going to be able to find him. He says he can’t take that chance. He needs her to promise that she won’t come looking for him again. She says she just doesn’t get it, because the last time they were together, they were working together to find a solution, and they still could. He says, there is a solution. They just don’t like it. He’s sorry he dragged her into this mess. She says she’s not some helpless victim here. She knew who he was pretty early on, and she chose to be with him over and over again. He says, she’s the best thing that ever happened to him. That’s why he’s not going to drag her down with him. She says, don’t do that. Don’t talk like this is over. He may want to give up, but she never will.

Sonny asks if it isn’t Karrie’s birthday around now, and John says, Karen. He doesn’t get to call her cute little pet names. Not in front of him anyway. Sonny says, today is her birthday. He remembers because Stone bought her this beautiful cake and she was really… John says, save that for someone who can stand the sound of his voice, and Sonny says, relax, Agent Cates. Just seeing him brings back so many memories, especially of his brother Stone, who was a great kid. Funny, generous, incredibly brave, but John wouldn’t know nothin’ about that, because John took off when Stone needed him most. Michael asks Dante, what’s dad doing? and Sonny says he takes that back. Because John did visit him once. Stone was dying of AIDS and John managed to take some time out of his busy schedule and visited him for like, one hour. John says, Sonny knows nothing about him and his brother, and Sonny says, what he does know is, John didn’t take care of him. He didn’t take care of his brother and he hates the air Sonny breathes. And it didn’t matter to him that Sonny sat by Stone, holding his hand, listening to his fears, while John took off with Karen, living his best life. Then he cheated on her. She divorced him. He’s not only a bad husband, he’s a bad brother. John throws a punch, but misses Sonny, who says, whoa. Back up. Does he want to do that again? Sonny takes a fighter’s stance and says, John wants to hit him? but Michael and Dante pull them apart.

Dante asks what Sonny is thinking, and Sonny asks what he means. He didn’t raise his hand. John is the one who lost his cool. Dante says, because Sonny was baiting the guy. John is trying to help Sonny. Sonny asks what he means, and Dante says, don’t worry about it. John’s trying to help Sonny and so is he. Sonny says he thinks Dante is just getting in the way right now. Michael tells John, stand down, Agent Cates, and John says, he’s Michael Corinthos. In case he didn’t know, his dad is losing it. He’s sloppy and out of control. Michael says, the only punches he saw came from John, and John says, if that’s all he saw, he needs to open his eyes. Sonny always brings out the best in people, doesn’t he? Michael asks if federal agents aren’t required to follow a code of behavior regardless of who they’re dealing with, and John says, tell his dad to be careful. His luck is running out.

Chase tells Brook that he’s lucky he’s a guy. Nobody cares what he’s wearing. She gives him a look, and he says, almost no one. If he has his dad and his brother there, and she’s standing there with him at the altar, it will be the greatest moment of his life. She says, he’s right. There are so many more important things about this wedding than whatever dress she decides to wear. He says he didn’t mean it like that. Let’s be honest. It’s going to be her day and she should be happy with every single part of it. She says, that’s another reason she adores him. Her grandma loved her mother, Lila. Everyone did. But let’s be honest, her grandmother can be prickly. He says, a little bit, and she says, but Lila loved her. Unconditionally. She was never afraid to tell Tracy when she behaved badly and always believed in the best in her. She thinks her grandmother really misses her, still grieves her. She’s afraid that bringing up the dress will just bring up pain for her, and it’s the last thing she wants to do. He says, Tracy’s lucky to have a granddaughter who understands her as well as Brook does, and Brook says she and her grandmother speak the same language. They deserve each other… most of the time, as much as it pains her to admit it. He says, if she doesn’t run the risk of asking Tracy for the wedding dress, she definitely won’t get it. And who knows? Maybe she’ll be open to the opportunity to give it to Brook. Brook says, maybe, but that’s a dream she’s willing to let go of because a much bigger dream of hers is coming true. He asks if she’s sure, and she nods and says, should they tell them the wedding is still on? He says, no. He thinks they should make them sweat a little while longer. They kiss.

Lois holds out her hand and says, come on, Tracy, let’s make peace. Tracy ignores Lois’s hand and says, peace is not synonymous with unconditional surrender. She will make her terms very clear. Maxie says, they’ll come back to her terms. Look. Brook and Chase are independent people, but she knows from experience everyone needs help planning a wedding. People who didn’t RSVP will show up with guests and those guests will most likely be exhausted children under the age of five. Family members will think an open bar is a challenge, and people who weren’t asked will give speeches. Lois says, it’s true (yep). They’ve got to be prepared for things to go sideways. That’s why they’ve got to put their differences aside and be on the same page, so they can plan the perfect wedding for the perfect couple. Just like Lila did for her. Gregory says he couldn’t agree more, and Tracy says, that’s what she was trying to do. Lois says, they know she was trying to do right by Brook, and while legal advice is helpful, it’s neither borrowed nor blue. Tracy says, she’s borrowing the company plane, and Lois says, and that is extremely generous, but she was talking about maybe something extremely meaningful. Something that maybe isn’t as easy for Tracy to give. Brook and Chase come in, and Brook says, they can all exhale. She and Chase have sorted everything out. And they are going to discuss the agreement with their lawyers. Chase says he wants to thank Tracy. He knows that all she wants to do is protect her family, and that’s what he wants too. He hugs Tracy, and she says, they’ll be so excited to welcome him to the family. He thanks her and asks if Gregory is ready. Gregory says, indeed he is. He is so looking forward to this wedding. Chase gives Brook a quick kiss, and Gregory tells Tracy, be sure to save a dance for him. He and Chase leave, and the girls are all like, oooh. Lois tells Brook, all right. Let’s go find you a dress.

Dante says, he’s getting in the way. Of what? Sonny getting beat up? Sonny says, Jagger should not be working this case. They go way back. Things Dante doesn’t understand. Bad blood. He was trying to get John to hit him so they would send him back to Washington, and John would be away from him and this case. Dante says, bad blood or not, this guy’s trying to protect Sonny, and the FBI have better resources… Sonny says, the FBI doesn’t want to protect him, but Dante says, yes, they do. Sonny says, no, they don’t. And Jagger sure as hell doesn’t either. He’s trying to pay Sonny back for things that were settled years ago. He’s telling Dante right now, John’s either going to get him shot or he’s going to stand there and watch. Or John’s going to set him up for something worse. Sonny doesn’t trust him at all and neither should Dante. Sonny leaves, as Michael watches everything.

Dex says, Josslyn doesn’t think he hates this? She doesn’t think this is tearing him up too? Nothing in his life prepared him for her. He doesn’t feel like he made a choice to love her. He just does. And he knows he always will. It’s because he loves her that he’s doing this. She says, maybe he’s right and maybe it’s too early for him to come back to Port Charles, but what if he came back in six months, a year? He says he’s not going to ask her to wait around for a time that will never come. She has her whole life ahead of her. She’s going to finish school, become an amazing doctor, and save lives, just like she did his. She says, none of that matters if he’s not there, and he says, she knows he’s right. She can have a good life, but she has to let him go.

Elizabeth says, marriage? and Finn says, you know, weddings, dancing, cake, a lifetime commitment, all that stuff. She says she does like cake, and kisses him. He says he likes cake. Anything else? She says she likes their relationship just the way it is. And they have the luxury of time, and she’d like to enjoy what they have right now. Why rush it? He says he feels the same way, and kisses her again. What a relief. He’s sorry. Please don’t take that the wrong way. He’s pretty sure he has bad luck with weddings. Chase asked him to be his best man and his response was less than enthusiastic. He thinks he let Chase down. Chase and Gregory come in, and Gregory says, all’s well that ends well. It seems there was a slight miscommunication. Chase says he and Brook are good, and Finn says, that’s good news, right? There’s something he’d like to say to Chase… Chase says, hold on. He’d like to go first. He’s sorry he pressured Finn to be his best man. He can ask someone else. It’s not a big deal.

Lois raises her champagne glass and says, to new beginnings. Fussing with the dresses, Maxie says, and to bows and ruffles, in moderation. Brook, Lois, and Tracy clink glasses, and Brook says, all right. Let’s do this. She goes over to the dress rack, and Lois nods at Tracy. Brook says, this one might be more exciting off the hanger, and Tracy says, Brook Lynn, and sets down her glass. Tracy tells Brook that she was evasive with her earlier, talking about her mother’s dress… She tears up and says she misses her mother every single day and she so regrets not wearing that dress when her mother offered it to her. So. She’s come to understand that dress was never meant for her to wear. It was meant for her to share. (Unreal. They nearly have me crying over a stupid dress, but you can really feel what Tracy’s feeling.)

Tracy brings in a large white box, and places it on the coffee table. Brook says, is that…? Brook sits down, opens the box, and unfolds the tissue paper. Tracy says, make any alterations she wants. The dress is hers. Brook lifts the top half of the dress out of the box, then puts it back. She gets up and, her voice breaking, tells Tracy, you have no idea what this means to me. She hugs Tracy, and says, thank you so much for the dress. Thank you for this incredible moment. Lois and Maxie smile.

Chase sees Violet’s invitation and looks at it. He says, for Violet’s wedding, does his suit have to be as colorful as the invitation, or can he squeak by with a black one? Finn says, what he meant to say earlier, what he should have said earlier is, he’d be honored to be Chase’s best man. And he appreciates Chase letting him off the hook, but there’s no way he’s letting anyone take his place. Chase hugs Finn, and Finn tells him, don’t get emotional. Gregory is loving it.

Josslyn’s phone rings, and she tells Michael, this is not a good time. She can’t talk. He says, this can’t wait. He needs her to do something for him. If she finds Dex, he needs her to bring him back to Port Charles. He looks at Dante and Sonny sparring, and says, and don’t take no for an answer. Josslyn looks at Dex, who’s messing around with his suitcase. He looks back at her.

As they spar, Dante says, history or no history, Sonny is playing with fire, messing around with a federal agent like that. Sonny says, that’s all right. He can handle himself. Dante says he’s glad Sonny walked away, and Sonny says, good to know. They stop for a moment, and Dante says he’s not going to apologize to Sonny for stopping the fight. Sonny says, what’s gonna happen is gonna happen. Sooner or later, Dante is going to know the truth about Jagger Cates. They go back to sparring.

Josslyn says, that was Michael and he said she needed to bring Dex back to Port Charles and not to take no for an answer. Dex asks, why? and she says she thinks Sonny’s in trouble. And he needs you.

Tomorrow, Carly says, Drew can’t do that if he’s focused on revenge; Felicia asks why Maxie is so much angrier at Spinelli than her; John tells Anna that he wants Sonny Corinthos out of his life for good; and Sonny tells Ava and Spinelli, tonight he’s bringing his enemy down to his knees.

🎂 They Said It’s Her Birthday…

Because I had to know. I didn’t see how Sonny was as horrible as John is making him out to be. Not to mention, it was a brief time a million years ago.

Who Was Karen on GENERAL HOSPITAL?

🍟 On the Side…

This book sounds like a good beach read.

Jon Lindstrom on Becoming a Bestselling Author (EXCLUSIVE)

Rock on.

GH’s William Lipton Stars in a New Series!

I love K-drama.

GH’s Sebastian Roché Adds a Korean Soap to His Resume!

💎 And They Should Know…

Like none of them has ever been desperate to hang on before.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13139295/Teddi-Mellencamp-claims-Dorit-Kemsley-released-text-Kyle-Richards-stay-RHOBH.html

🏊🏽‍♀️ She’s the Worst…

More proof of how awful some of these people are. I was drawn back into the trainwreck and seeing it was even more awful.

https://people.com/summer-house-recap-lindsay-hubbard-makes-hurtful-accusation-sober-carl-radke-on-cocaine-8602650

📉 Not All Marriages Last…

Apparently, Tracy was right. Not too much of a shock with this one.

https://people.com/welcome-to-plathville-ethan-and-olivia-plath-file-for-divorce-8602028

I have to admit, I’m surprised. What happens to their new show now?

https://people.com/jax-taylor-and-brittany-cartwright-announce-separation-8598833

⚰️ About Those Ones…

The principles share their perspectives.

https://ew.com/danai-gurira-michonne-walking-dead-ones-who-live-entrance-8599395

https://ew.com/andrew-lincoln-explains-walking-dead-ones-who-live-premiere-shocker-8599329

🏃🏽‍♂️ Whys and Hows…

All about Leap Year.

https://www.livescience.com/human-behavior/why-do-we-have-leap-years-and-how-did-they-come-about

🐕 Sudsy Pup…

She was also on the much missed The Haves and the Have Nots.

Brytni Sarpy Introduces Her New Puppy!

💃🏽 Leaping Into March…

See you tomorrow for the usual soap and the unpredictable Friday free-for-all. Until then, stay safe, stay making voicemails brief, and stay never signing an agreement you haven’t read. And never taking the first offer.

Oct14

October 13, 2023 – The Wedding Is On, Thought, Back, Fitting, MIA, A Goodbye, Salty Talk, Postscript, Hard Times, Back To the 80s, Dead Stuff, Costumed Pets (!), Totally Ten Quotes & Monster

Posted on by
Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Curtis lifts weights, when there’s a knock at the door. He wheels himself over to open it, and Stella asks if it’s a bad time. He says, not at all, if she doesn’t mind waiting for him to finish another set. She says, not at all, and comes in. She asks if somebody else is here, but he says, no, just him, picking up one of the weights. He asks if she thinks they shouldn’t have left him alone, and she asks if she said that. He says, no, and she says, he’s been on his own for a while now, and he’s doing just fine. He works with the weight, and says, she’s been tracking him, huh? She says she always has; she’s not going to change now. He’s working hard; very impressive. He says he’s just trying to keep it all together, and she says, he’s doing more than keeping it together. She’s very proud of him. He thanks her and says, all these exercises, in fact everything he does, is for Trina and Portia and Marshall. She says, how’s that? and he says, every morning there’s a part of him that doesn’t want to get out of bed. Then he thinks about his family. They need him, and he will not let them down. There’s a knock at the door, and Stella says she’ll get it. She opens it to Selina and says, what do you want?

TJ tells Portia he heard a rumor going around. The buzz is totally positive. She says she has no idea what he’s talking about, but he says, spill. She says she doesn’t want to talk about it yet. Not until she gets a chance to tell Curtis, and she wants to tell him in person. He’s going to be so hurt if he finds out everyone at GH knew before he did. She’s trying to sneak out of here so she can see him. TJ says, he’s going to be thrilled.

Josslyn knocks on the door at Windymere, and Giles answers. He asks if he can help her, and she says, he probably doesn’t remember her, but she’s Josslyn Jax, Avery’s older sister. He says, of course (🍷). What can he do for her? She says she’s looking for Ava. She never picked Avery up from the nanny last night. Giles invites her in.

A guard walks Cyrus to the visiting room, and Cyrus says, another visitor during off hours? He sees Laura, and she says, hello, Cyrus.

Austin sits at his desk and flashes back to him telling the judge that Cyrus is weak because of his heart attack, and no longer a physical threat to anybody. He says, yeah, weak like a great white shark is weak. He remembers telling Mason that he did what was asked and to let Ava go, and Mason saying, neither one of them call the shots. There’s a knock at the door, and Dex says, sorry to bother him, but has he seen Ava Jerome?

Puerto Rico. Here Comes the Bride plays as Nina walks to Sonny, and everyone looks all happy. The priest welcomes everyone and says, they’ve been blessed with a beautiful day to witness the joining in matrimony of Michael Sonny Corinthos and Nina Reeves. This is a joyful occasion, and a solemn one. Marriage as a traditional ceremony is an honorable one, not to be entered into lightly, but a pledge between two people to honor, support, and love one another for the rest of your lives. Is that the pledge they’re willing to make? Nina says, we are, and Sonny says, yeah, we are.

Selina says she’s here to see her friend, but Stella says, she doesn’t have any friends here. And no way she’s buying any with that gift basket. Stella looks at the bodyguard holding a basket of fruit behind Selina, and Curtis says, it’s okay. Selina’s a business associate. Stella says, uh-huh, and Selina walks in. (Oooh. The bodyguard has a bakery box too.) Selina says, his aunt is very protective. She admires that in a family. Stella excuses herself, and Curtis asks what Selina is doing here. She says, he’s been back home for a while now. She thought she’d give him some time to get accustomed to his new life. He says, that was considerate, and she says she hopes now he’s come to his senses and is ready to sell her The Savoy.

Cyrus says, what an unexpected and wonderful surprise. He didn’t know Laura was back from her trip. She says, they just got back, and he says, and she chose to come and see him. He’s touched. She says, he cut his hair, and shaved, and… He says, since he found his true calling, he didn’t find the need to hide behind appearances, and she says, he looks great. So tell her, how is he feeling? He says, their brother told her about his little medical problem, and she says she doesn’t know that she’d call a heart attack a little medical problem, and she’s glad Marty told her. He asks if Martin also told her that it was her aura that pulled him through in his darkest hour, but she says, it was Drew Cain who saved his life. He says, without the will to live, his CPR might not have been effective, but he is a good man. She says, he’s a very good man. That’s why it’s such a shame he’s in here with… Cyrus says, with men like me. He gets the feeling checking on his health isn’t the only reason she’s here. She says she heard about his application for early release, and he asks if she’s here as his sister or the mayor.

Giles says he’s also concerned about Miss Jerome’s whereabouts, and Josslyn says, so she hasn’t been here? He says, she was home when he left. That was night before last. She didn’t mention any plans to be away, but when he came to work yesterday, she wasn’t here. She never came home. Josslyn says, so no maid or no housekeeper has seen her, and he says, no one on the staff has seen or heard from her, but he did find a broken martini glass on the floor here. He points near the fireplace, and says, it could have been an accident. Perhaps she’s staying with her friend Miss Reeves? Josslyn says, no. Nina’s in Puerto Rico getting married. He says, Dr. Gatlin-Holt’s been a frequent guest recently. He was under the impression the doctor and Miss Jerome might be close.

Austin says, recently, no, he hasn’t seen Ava, and Dex asks if he remembers the last time he saw or heard from her. Austen says, two or three days ago. Why is Dex asking him this? Dex says, she hasn’t been to her art gallery, and no one has seen or heard from her, and Austin says, Dex works for Sonny Corinthos; is he right about that? Dex says, yeah, and Austin says, a couple of days ago, Ava mentioned she was thinking of maybe taking a trip to New York. She said there was an artist she was interested in signing. Dex says, that could be very helpful, and thanks Austin for his time. Austin says, no problem, and as he walks past Dex, Dex punches him in the stomach and gets him in a headlock. As Austin struggles to breathe, Dex says, Sonny has a daughter with Ava Jerome, so he cares about her. If he finds out Austin has something to do with her disappearance, he’ll be back, and he won’t be asking questions. He lets Austin go and walks out.

In the hallway, Dex’s phone rings, and Josslyn tells him that she thinks she might have found something.

The priest says, it’s his understanding Sonny and Nina have elected to say their own vows, and Nina hands her bouquet to Willow. Sonny says he guesses Nina wants him to go, and she says, yeah. They join hands, and Sonny says he spent all morning writing his vows. They’re in his pocket, but when he looked in Nina’s eyes, he felt like he didn’t need to write his vows because he can always speak from his heart to her. He thanks her for trusting and loving him, and for seeing the better man in him than he ever saw in himself. He appreciates her kindness and her strength and her willingness to fight for their love, even though everybody was against them. When they doubted they should be together, they did everything they could to get through it, and here they are. He’s convinced more now that they belong together, because of how he feels right now in the moment. How he always does; she makes him secure. He knows she loves him and he loves her that much more, and he always will.

Selina asks Curtis to just hear her out. She’ll keep the entire staff at The Savoy – Stella walks back in – and the entire name of the club will remain. He and his entire family will have VIP memberships for life, and she’ll increase her original offer to twice what he paid for the club. He says, that’s an extremely generous offer, and she says she agrees. So what does he say? He thinks a moment and asks why she’s determined to buy his club. Why doesn’t she start her own and find a location that’s half the price? Stella says, good question.

Cyrus says, in case Laura is wondering, he has no idea how the judge is going to rule. He hasn’t heard anything yet. Now that she’s back, will she oppose his release? She says, he looks as strong and healthy as the day he got in here, but that said, she’s not a doctor. And as the mayor, she doesn’t interfere with judicial decisions. He says he supposes putting in a good word for her brother is out of the question, and she says, yes. He asks if Marty also told her that he gave away all of his money.

Dex arrives at Windymere, and Giles lets him in. Josslyn introduces Giles, and says, Giles told her that Ava hasn’t been home since night before last, and nobody on the staff has seen or heard from her. Dex says, she told him that she found something, and she says, this cellphone and this lollypop. The cellphone was under the coffee table, and the lollypop was just kind of sticking out of the couch. And Giles found a broken martini glass on the floor. Giles says, Miss Avery must have dropped the lollypop last time she was here, but Josslyn says, this isn’t Avery’s. Dex asks how she knows, and she says, because it’s grape and Avery hates grape. So somebody else had to have been here. And Ava would have never left her cellphone in case Avery needed to get in touch with her. Dex says he saw cameras everywhere as he walked up to the house. There have to be more, right? Giles says, yes, and Dex says he needs to see the footage from the minute Giles left Ava.

Nina says, to be honest, she never imagined she’d be here right now with Sonny. It’s actually the last thing she ever expected or wanted, and she fought it for a very long time. She kept telling herself that they would never work, and as she kept saying that, her heart kept falling deeper and deeper in love with him. And she couldn’t fight her heart anymore, could she? Or him. His charm, his humor, his compassion, his courage, his loyalty… his dance moves. What more could a person ask for in someone they love? Then she saw him parent his children, who he fiercely loves, and how he’s willing to fight for them, for their protection. She’s always wanted that family, since she was a little girl. Her daughter is now a part of her life – she looks at Willow – and the two of them are part of his family. He’s given her so much. He’s given her a family. And she wants to give him something. She’s going to surround him with love for his entire life; she promises him that. And they can leave all their mistakes behind them. She’ll walk with him, hand in hand, right beside him, loving him, for the rest of his life.

Selina tells Curtis that she doesn’t have the time or the inclination to open a new club. It’s too much work and she has a busy schedule. The Savoy is already established; that’s why she’ll be paying him top dollar for it. Stella asks if he heard how Selina made it sound like it’s a done deal, when Portia walks in. Selina tells her, good afternoon, and Stella says, she got here just in time. Miss Wu brought them a basket filled with treats. Why doesn’t Portia have a seat and she’ll make them some tea so they can all get to know each other better. She asks what kind of tea Selina would like, and Selina says, that’s kind of her, but she has another appointment. Stella says, that’s just too bad. Maybe another time then. She opens the front door, and Selina nods to her bodyguard. She tells Curtis that she’ll be in touch, and he thanks her for the basket. I want to know what’s in the bakery box. Selina leaves with the guard, and Stella closes the door, putting her back against it, and says, amen.

Dex looks at a tablet, and Giles says, he can see the front entrance is well-covered by several cameras. Dex says, there Giles is, leaving. This is the night before last. Ava was alone when he left? Giles says, yes. Feel free to examine the rest of the footage. He must check on a delivery. Please help Miss Jerome. He leaves, and Dex points at the tablet, saying, there. Someone’s coming in. Josslyn says she sees him, but she can’t see his face; he’s wearing a hood. They keep watching, and Dex says, they’re at about twenty minutes later. Josslyn says, there’s Ava. She’s with him, but Josslyn can’t tell if her hands are tied or if she’s just walking super close to him. Dex suggests they check the dock camera around that time… They didn’t use the launch. Josslyn says, he would still have to go back to Port Charles, no? and Dex says, right there. He has his own boat. That’s what they left on. If he and Josslyn want to see where they came ashore, they need to see the harbor security cameras and the traffic cameras from that time. They can’t do that without going to the cops. Josslyn says, there’s another way.

Josslyn knocks at an apartment door, and a voice asks, who knocks? She looks up at a camera and says, Spinelli, it’s Josslyn. You’re watching us through the security camera. Spinelli opens the door and says, greetings, clever girl. What brings them to his door?

Austin gives TJ a folder and says, the prognosis was very impressive. He coughs and drinks some water, and TJ asks if he’s all right. Austin says he’s fine. He went to a concert last night and he was very enthusiastic. TJ asks, who was the band? when Mason walks in. He says he’s sorry. His cousin here wanted to see him.

Cyrus tells Laura that he’s seen so much suffering in here, he thought his money could do more good trying to help these poor souls. She says, Marty did mention to her that he’d given some of his money to a recidivism organization, but he says, not some of his money, every dime. He says, she doesn’t believe that, and she says she guesses they’ll see, won’t they, if he’s granted his early release. He says, how little faith she has in her brother. They were ill-gotten gains. He’s come to realize and appreciate that. She says she hopes so, and he says, she doesn’t seem to doubt the generosity of her friend Sonny Corinthos when he gives away his dirty money. He’s not wrong.

The priest says, Sonny and Nina’s vows were so clearly from the heart. Now please repeat after him. They say the traditional vows; in sickness and health, forsaking all others until death do us part. The rings are exchanged, and the priest says, in the presence of God and these witnesses, they’re now husband and wife. What God has joined, let no one put asunder. He thinks they know what happens next. They laugh and Donna says, you’re supposed to kiss. They do, and everyone smiles.

Portia asks what that was about, and Stella says, that woman was trying… Curtis says, Selina came to talk business, but what is Portia doing here in the middle of the day? She says she wanted to tell him something in person, but she wanted it to be official. Stella says, for what to be official? and Portia says she’s been named Co-Chief of Staff at General Hospital. Curtis says, congratulations, and she says, it’s going to be a lot more administrative work and a lot of emails, but… Stella says, Portia knows she can handle all of that, and Curtis says, she’ll be great. Portia says, and it’s going to be a little extra money. Stella says, as it should be for all that extra work, and Curtis says, they’ll be very lucky to have her. He couldn’t be more proud of his intelligent, accomplished, and very gorgeous wife. She kisses him and says, thank you.

Dex tells Spinelli that they couldn’t download the video from the system at Windymere, so all they have is the footage he had access to. Josslyn says, they also found Ava’s cellphone at Windymere, but she doesn’t know how to get in. Can he break in? He says, he can, but it will take time Ava doesn’t have, and Dex says, let’s get back to what we’ve got. The butler departed the house at 10:57 that night. At 11:18, an unidentified figure, likely male, entered the house. There’s no footage from the interior, so we don’t know what happened inside, but at 11:59, the hooded figure left by the front door with Ava. They were close together. He appears to be leading her, and from her posture, it’s likely her hands were tied. They arrived at the docks at 12:03 am and left in a single engine outboard. That’s what we have. Spinelli says, well done, and Josslyn says, what they really need to know is where they docked the boat in Port Charles. Does he think he can get access to the harbor security and traffic cameras?

Austin tells TJ that the apologizes. His cousin is unaware of hospital protocol. Mason could have just interrupted a consultation with a patient. Mason says he’s sorry. He’s just a truck driver and doesn’t know anything about hospital protocols. So he hopes TJ can forgive him. TJ says, no problem. They’re finished. He thanks Austin and is about to leave, when he says, so Mason is a truck driver? and Mason says, used to be. Now he kind of does a little bit of everything. TJ says, it was good to see him again, Mason says, him too, and TJ leaves. He pauses for a moment outside the door, then walks on. Mason tells Austin, do not get high and mighty with him about manners. Austin said he needed to see him right away, so what’s going on? Austin says, Sonny Corinthos knows.

Laura says, Sonny has nothing to do with the way she views Cyrus, but he says he’s well-aware of that. He and Sonny were in the same kind of business for years, and he ever thought much about Sonny. But then he’d see Sonny treated with such reverence, an honored member of the Port Charles community with a respected family when he’s no better than Cyrus is. Again he’s not wrong.

Kristina congratulates Nina and welcomes her to the family, hugging her. Donna goes over to Sonny and says, her turn. He says, come here, girl. Give me a hug. He wants her to know something. Daddy always loves her. She knows that, right? She says she loves him, and they hug again. These two are too cute together. Donna asks Nina if she can call her Mama Nina now, and Nina says she would love nothing more. She hugs Donna.

Willow tells Sonny, congratulations, and hugs him. He says, her mother is the best thing that ever happened to him. He just wants her to know that she means everything to Nina. Willow smiles at him, and tells Nina, congratulations. Nina thanks her, and says, it means so much that she’s here. Willow hugs her, and I feel sick thinking about this all falling apart. Michael hugs Sonny and tells Nina, congratulations. Welcome to the family. He kisses her on the cheek.  

Stella says, this is definitely cause for a celebration, and Portia agrees. Stella says she’s taking the two of them out for dinner tonight to celebrate. Marshall and Trina too. Portia says, they can actually have dinner in here tonight, have some champagne. It’ll be a little bit more relaxing, right? Curtis says, no. Auntie’s right. This is a big deal and they should celebrate it, right? Stella tells him, you said it, baby.

Laura tells Cyrus that she supposes she and Sonny have the sort of friendship that surprises some people, but she had no idea it upset him that much. He says he’s sorry. He’s not upset at Sonny. He supposes he just envies Sonny’s life, and how Sonny seems to have a closer relationship with his sister than he does. She says she’s known Sonny for a very long time, and he says, he knows it’s unlikely, but if he does get his release, perhaps he and Laura can build a bond that’s even stronger than the one she has with Sonny. She kind of shrugs and smiles, and the guard says, time’s up. Cyrus says, wish me luck, and she tells him, good luck. He laughs and pats her hand. He thanks her so much for coming. He hopes to see her again very soon. He leaves with the guard.

Just for the record, I’m aware they spell the prison Pentonville on the show, but I think Pentenville looks more like penitentiary, so, artistic license. Like with Windymere.

Dex says, there. That was the boat. Josslyn is surprised he can see it, and Spinelli says, keen powers of observation. Here they are. Dex says, Pier 17, and Spinelli, the abductor, if that’s what he is, chose his spot well. See what’s around the pier? It’s all warehouses. They’d be deserted at that hour, so even if Ava were to call for help, he doesn’t think she’d be heard. Josslyn says, wait. He took off his hood. Dex asks if Spinelli can tighten it, and Spinelli says, yes, of course (🍷), but the cameras are not high res; it might be grainy. Dex says he knows that guy. That’s Austin Gatlin-Holt’s cousin… Mason.

Austin says, one of Sonny’s guys was here asking about Ava, and Mason says, so? Austin says, what does he mean, so? No one’s heard from her in a couple of days. Mason says, because she’s locked in a basement somewhere. Who cares? Austin says he cares. He cares very much. Mason says, that’s sweet. His cousin is in love. Austin says he’s not joking around here. Don’t you hurt her. Mason says, Austin knows better than to threaten him, and Austin asks if it isn’t enough that Ava spent all this time thinking she killed Nikolas, and Nikolas is alive and well. He’s fine; he’s in Europe. Mason says he didn’t tell the guy to take off. He and Cyrus were the ones who kept him alive in the first place. Austin says, Nikolas is Cyrus’s nephew, and Mason says, forgive him. Cyrus has never struck him as the sentimental type about family, but Austin says, maybe they’re wrong about that. Mason needs to convince Cyrus to leave Ava alone. If that guy comes back for him… Mason says, put him off, but Austin says, no. He thought he already had. He punched Austin in the gut and grabbed him in a chokehold. He said, if anything happens to Ava, he’s coming back for Austin. Mason says, looks like you’ve got a problem, cuz.

Sonny and Nina, and Michael and Willow slow dance, while Kristina dances with the kids. Michael’s phone dings, and he says he has to take this real quick. He’ll be back. Willow calls Wiley over to dance with her, and Sonny asks if he can dance with his little girl. Donna says, yeah, and much cuteness happens. Willow suggests Wiley ask his grandmother to dance, and Wiley asks Nina if she wants to dance. She says, does she? Yeah. They dance as much as you can dance with a three-foot height difference. On the side, Michael says he’s at a family function. He can’t talk long. So, they have the name of the person who turned Drew Cain in to the SEC?

We don’t see his face, but a man tells Michael, the SEC was contacted by a lawyer named Martin Grey, acting on behalf of a client. Michael says, Grey was just a go-between. He needs the name of the person who pointed the SEC to his mom and Drew… He turns around and looks at Nina having a grand old time with Wiley. Ugh. I mean, I get it. She did wrong, but I still feel badly about it since it all finally came together, and everyone is so happy.

Curtis reaches for his water, and Portia tries to help, but he says he’s got it. Doesn’t she have to go back to the hospital, Co-Chief of Staff? She laughs and says she does actually, and he says he’s going to take a shower and he’ll see her tonight. She says she can’t wait, and he wheels himself out of the room. Stella suggests Portia take the basket over to the hospital for the nurses to enjoy, and Portia says, okay. When she gets closer, Stella lowers her voice and says, Portia doesn’t have to do everything. She just got a wonderful well-deserved job and she’ll be making more money. Portia says, right, and The Savoy is making money, and Stella says, but Curtis isn’t there. In his mind, he’s not making a dime. Curtis needs her, he needs all of them, to live out their lives as normally as possible and not walk on eggshells around him. He can go out the restaurant and have a fine time. Portia says she was just thinking he’ll be more comfortable here, that’s all, but Stella says, if something is making Curtis uncomfortable, he’s a grown man and he can tell them himself. Believe her. She knows Curtis and he will. Portia says, okay, and thanks her. They hug, and Stella hands Portia the basket. Portia asks if she’s sure, and Stella says, absolutely. They don’t want nothing that woman has to offer, but she will be keeping the baked goods. Portia takes the basket and leaves.

Josslyn asks if Dex is sure that’s the same guy, and Dex says, positive. Maybe Mason has ties to someone working against Sonny; he’s not sure who yet. Josslyn asks how he can tell from this picture, and Dex says, when he was following Mason, he always had a lollypop in his mouth. Josslyn says, that would explain the grape lollypop at Ava’s, and Spinelli says, here we go. The vehicle that Ava and Mason got in is registered to a Pautuck Trucking Company, Pautuck, New York. Dex says he’s going to need a list of all the employees employed by the trucking company and their addresses, as well as any properties owned or leased by the trucking company. He tells Josslyn, that’s where they’ll find Ava.

Austin says, Mason’s right. He has a problem. Because for some reason, Cyrus hates Sonny Corinthos. Can Mason please explain that to him, because he doesn’t understand. Isn’t there enough to go around for everybody? There’s plenty there. At least there used to be. Mason says he doesn’t get it either. Honestly, he thinks the whole thing started when the boss found out Mayor Collins was his sister. Austin asks, what’s that got to do with anything? and Mason says he doesn’t know. He’s just telling Austin, that’s when Cyrus started mentioning Sonny more and more. He would rant on and on about Corinthos and the life he had. Austin says, what life? They both have the same life. They’re mob bosses. Mason says, he called Sonny respectable. It’s almost as if it’s something he wanted for himself and doesn’t have. Austin says, so his life is in danger because Cyrus is jealous of Sonny Corinthos, but Mason says he thinks it goes deeper than that. Austin says, if that guy comes back, Sonny’s guy, he’s going to spill his guts. And they’re next move is to come after Mason, and then Mason will be as dead as him. Mason tells him, don’t do anything stupid. Austin’s only protection from Sonny is the boss, so just do as he’s told. Let the boss handle Sonny. He leaves.

Wiley and Donna chant, cake, cake, cake, and pound on the table. Sonny and Nina get ready to cut the cake, and Michael watches from the sidelines.

The guard says, this is it, opening the door, and Cyrus goes out into the sunshine wearing civilian clothes. He takes an envelope of the possessions he came with from the guard, and the guard says, he knows his way out. Cyrus says he certainly does, and tosses the envelope into a trashcan on his way to the gate.

Sonny and Nina cut the cake, and Sonny feeds Nina a piece. Michael watches.

Before going through the gate, Cyrus takes a deep breath and smiles.

Sonny and Nina wipe icing off of Donna and Wiley’s faces. Michael glares at Nina. This is bad.

The prison gate opens, and Cyrus walks out. He turns to look back at the prison.

Sonny and Nina kiss and drink champagne. Michael glares some more.

Cyrus gets in a car, and it drives away.

On Monday, Cody wonders if Sasha is going to walk away from her life after just getting it back; Willow says, Michael never told her who he was talking to; and Kristina asks what someone is doing here.

💭 A thought: Interesting that Nina and Cyrus have parallel goals of wanting a family and are both going about it all wrong.

🩺 The Doctor Was Out…

This is embarrassing. He’s my absolute favorite soap actor and I didn’t even realize he’d been gone for so long. Well, nice to have him back.

Roger Howarth Announces His Return

🧳In Sonny’s Defense…

The punishment fit the crime; being exiled to Bridgeport. And one of the funniest interactions ever, starting with her opening the door to give Sam the boot and him standing there.

Maurice Benard Defends Gladys’ Punishment on GH

🕵🏾 The Latest in Waldos…

It’s time to put him back on the canvas. Taggert is definitely underused.

Where Is Taggert on GH? — Réal Andrews Speaks Out

🥀 Ringing Down the Curtain…

He had a wonderful run.

GH Alum Mark Goddard Dead at 87

🗽 Her Face Is Irrelevant…

Doubtful she was joking considering her ego. Tribecca does not need her endorsement.

RHONY’s Jessel Taank Jokes She Made Tribeca ‘Relevant’

🧂 Four Teaspoons Of Salt…

This week in RHOSLC.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 4, Episode 6 Recap: This Is Utah

The slam.

Mary Cosby Slammed After Body-Shaming Heather Gay on WWHL

The non-clap back.

Heather Gay Responds to Mary Cosby’s Body-Shaming by Thanking ‘Inclusive’ Gucci

To be filed under don’t care.

https://people.com/jen-shah-husband-sharrieff-shah-sends-50th-birthday-well-wishes-prison-exclusive-8303004

🍊 Orange You Done Yet…?

Fancy Pants Heather’s hint.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-orange-county/style-living/rhoc-season-17-reunion-recap-heather-dubrows-new-house

It was pretty bold for one just released from banishment.

Tamra Judge Slammed For Attacking Andy Cohen at RHOC Reunion

Apparently not too bold though, since the status quo stays the same.

Real Housewives of Orange County Cast Will Remain the Same for Season 18

💎 Possible Final Word…

So, they’re separated, but not divorcing, and it’s no one’s fault.

https://pagesix.com/2023/10/13/kyle-richards-mauricio-umansky-having-a-hard-time-before-separation/
Garcelle Beauvais ‘Shocked’ by Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky Split Despite Them ‘Having a Hard Time’

👠 Those 80s Ladies…

Normally, this wouldn’t be my type of film, but I do like an 80s flashback.

https://ew.com/tv/ladies-of-the-80s-lifetime-movie-first-look-photos/

https://people.com/ladies-of-the-80s-a-divas-christmas-lifetime-first-look-photos-8305219

⚰️ News Of the Departed…

Reddest herring in the world.

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-melissa-mcbride-season-2/

It makes sense since Jadis was a huge part of the Rick story.

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-adds-terry-o-quinn-pollyanna-mcintosh-teaser-photos/

There better be some good explanation of why Victor went from antihero to antichrist.

https://bleedingcool.com/tv/fear-the-walking-dead-season-8-scene-madison-victor-reunite-kinda/

Dead at the con.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/new-york-comic-con-2023-recap-the-walking-dead-universe-rick-michonne-daryl-dixon-carol-fear/#1

🐩 Best In Costume…

I could look at this stuff all day.

https://www.thelist.com/646383/the-best-celebrity-pet-halloween-costumes-ever/

https://www.hola.com/us/lifestyle/20211022325485/celebrity-halloween-costumes-pets-roundup-gallery-1/

📣 Quotes of the Week

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. – Bertrand Russell

If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content. – Leo Tolstoy

I could not tread these perilous paths in safety, if I did not keep a saving sense of humor. – Horatio Nelson

Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man. – Schopenhauer

Maturity is achieved when a person accepts life as full of tension. – Joshua L. Liebman

Our experiences don’t define us. It’s what we’ve learned from them that matters. – Monkey D. Garp (Vincent Regan), One Piece

A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave. – Mahatma Gandhi,

Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence. – Henry David Thoreau

Few things will make you feel better than a job brilliantly done. – Robin S. Sharma

Whoever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping. – Gertrude Stein

🪄 Putting a Spell On You…

Visit again on Monday really Tuesday for soap and what’s happening in the Med. Until then, stay safe, stay never blowing out a Jack O’Lantern before midnight on Halloween, and stay being aware of hospital protocol before you barge into a doctor’s office.

Oct7

October 6, 2023 – Sonny Has Errands To Run, She’s Out, She’s In, Faux Housewives, Simon Says, Sharing, Stop It, Dead Talk, Turkey Time, Vintage Scares, Pets (!) In Costume, Just Shy Of 10 Quotes & It’s That Time

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Sonny goes to Michael’s office, and Michael says he wasn’t expecting to see him. It must be important if Sonny decided to come all the way down to his office. Sonny asks if it’s a problem, but Michael says, no, just unusual. Sonny says he’s trying to be a little more spontaneous in his old age, and Michael asks what brings him here. Sonny says he knows he shouldn’t be asking this, but he has a favor that only Michael can do for him.

Moving right along, Sonny sees Anna at the MetroCourt bar, and thanks her for meeting him. She says she was a bit surprised by the invite, and he says he’s been looking out for her since the shooting at the MetroCourt. She says she appreciates that. She’s being very cautious, one eye looking over her shoulder, because apparently, she’s got a target on her back now. He asks if any threats have happened, but she says, no, and he says, that’s good to hear. She asks if that’s why he asked to see her, to check up on her, but he says he just wanted to let her know he’s going to be gone for a few days. If she needs anything, he’s just a phone call away.

Alexis says she can’t remember how long it’s been since they’ve visited her at her office. It must be important. What did she do to deserve this visit? We see it’s Sonny, and he says, it’s not what she’s done; it’s what she’s going to do. She says, typically, when someone wants her to do a favor for them, they ask her nicely and say please. What does he need? He says, put this paper to good use, and save a man’s life.

Setting a cup of coffee on the bar at Charlie’s, Kristina says, just tell her when and where, and she’s there. Sonny says, that’s my girl, and she says she’s actually pretty excited about it. After all he’s done for her lately, how could she possibly say no. He thanks her, and says he knows he can always count on her. She says, that’s not something she hears every day and it’s so nice. She hugs him, and Dante walks in.

Carly leaves a message for Diane to call her. She just wants some kind of update as to when they’re taking Drew back to Pentenville. Sonny knocks at his old kitchen door, and Carly says she just needs to know. She tells Sonny, hey, and he says he knows this must be difficult for her. Nobody wants Drew to go back to prison. She says she keeps hoping Diane is going to call and tell her they’ve figured out something, some kind of loophole to stop Drew from going back there. They’re looking into the judge to see if they can find some sort of bias, but it seems to be a longshot, so she doesn’t know. He says, she’s doing everything she can. There’s nobody more tenacious than Diane. She says, the girls are in school, and he knows that, so he must be here to see her, and he says, she guessed right. That, and to see the moss bowl🎍. She says, please tell her this isn’t bad news, and he says, it kind of depends on her perspective. She says, that’s cryptic. What’s going on? He says he and Nina are eloping.

Valentin is working on his laptop, when a message pops up with the number for a therapist in his area. He picks up his phone, but there’s a knock at the door. He opens it to Nina, who says she came by to see if things were any better with Charlotte. He invites her in, and she says, this place is so beautiful. Charlotte must be so thrilled to be in her own home with her dad… What’s wrong? What happened?

Robert meets Anna at the MetroCourt and asks, who’s the suit? She says, it’s a gift from Sonny, and he asks if she can send it back. She says, no, and he asks where Sonny gets off sending a goon over here to keep an eye on her. She says, he has a very caring side, and he says, so did Attila the Hun. She says, Sonny was worried about her and wanted to offer her protection, which she refused first of all; she didn’t think she needed it. He says, but now she does, and she says she changed her mind. He asks if something’s happened, and she says, other than the recent disturbing events, no. Nothing has happened in the last 24 hours since she’s had protection. He says, so she’s living in the MetroCourt, and she says, yes, until she moves into the new place. Valentin has bought a house for them. He asks when she went house hunting, but she says she didn’t. He bought the house on his own. Robert says, Valentin could have at least made her part of the process. Unless of course (🍷) she thinks he’s hiding something. She says, he’s always hiding something, but the house isn’t part of that. It was indeed meant to be a surprise. He says, Valentin is nothing if not full of those, and she says, he certainly is.

Gregory comes into Alexis’s office and asks how it went with Sonny. She asks how he knew Sonny was… Esme has to quit sharing every visitor that comes into her office. It’s not that she has anything to hide, Esme just needs to learn a little discretion. He says, Esme’s not to blame. When a notorious coffee importer shows up here, people tend to talk, and usually in hushed tones. Sonny’s good fodder for the water cooler. Alexis says, they’re going to be very disappointed. He just came to ask for a favor. Gregory says, he hopes nothing illegal, and she says, Sonny wanted to see if The Invader could help leverage Judge Albert Kim. He’s the judge who sentenced Drew Cain to three years in Pentenville. Gregory asks what outcome Sonny is hoping for, and she says, Carly thinks the judge’s sentence was unnecessarily harsh, and they’re hoping maybe they can get the sentence reduced or at the very least, have him moved to a safer facility. He asks just how Sonny suggests she do that, and she says, that’s what they have to figure out.

Carly says, eloping? What happened to the big blow-out wedding Sonny and Nina were planning? He says he wasn’t planning the wedding. He just told Nina that she can do whatever she wants with the wedding. Carly says she knows Olivia was helping, and he asks if that’s tough for her, but she says, no. She’s a big girl. Olivia can do what she wants, and they’re way too close for her to let something like that bother her. Sonny says, there were just so many details and things like that. A wedding should be about a celebration, not a deadline. She says, it’s just surprising considering all the noise Nina was making about her big wedding celebration, and he says, they’re just going to fly down to the island. It’s not going to be a big deal; just a small ceremony. It’s just going to be him and Nina, and whatever kids are able to go. She says, kids. That’s why he’s here. He says he would love if Donna could go. It would mean everything. If she’s okay with that.

Valentin tells Nina that he’s totally lost. He and Charlotte used to be so close, and now he feels like he doesn’t even know her. She says she knows this must be so difficult for him, but he says, not just him. Charlotte’s going to need professional help. He’s trying to find her a therapist. (I guess Montague is out.) She says, it might take him a while to find someone. Charlotte’s in a very serious situation, and he’s going to have to find the doctor who’s the right fit. He says he’s always been able to talk to her, hasn’t he? No matter how raw it gets. She knows him, maybe better than anybody; maybe even Anna. He doesn’t know how it got this way. This is his little girl they’re talking about. Nina says, they’re going to figure this out together. Where is Charlotte now? He says, she went on a bike ride. That’s why he’s doing research and making phone calls. Nina asks if he hasn’t said anything to Charlotte, and he says he just doesn’t know what he’d say if she lied to him, if she denied it. He doesn’t know how he’d react. Why is this happening? Did he do something to make her act out like this?

Kristina says, he told dad what? and Dante says he explained he couldn’t go to the wedding, but he’d go to the next one. She says, that’s not even funny, but he says he’s just kidding. She says, so he is going to go, but he says he’s not kidding about that part. She says, he has to go. Dad asked Dante to be his best man, didn’t he? Dante says, he did, and he’s honored. He just can’t go away right now. She says, that, she does get, because the PCPD softball team really need their star pitcher, and he says, they probably do, but he’s just got a lot of stuff going on here. She says, what stuff is more important than dad’s wedding? and he says, Charlotte was living with them; she’s moved out. They’re dealing with the fact Scout’s father Drew is behind bars, and it’s tough on her. His job… She seems more annoyed than Sonny did. He took this a lot better than her. She says she just thinks it’s important they be there to support dad, and he says he agrees. Dad knows he supports him. They’ve had their ups and downs, but he knows Dante’s behind his and Nina’s relationship. She says, nothing can keep her away, and he says, that’s good. She’ll be representing. She says she doesn’t think she’ll be the only one actually. Dad asked Michael to come. Dante says, that’s big. What did Michael say?

At the hospital, Michael looks for Willow, and a nurse tells him that she thinks Willow’s still on break. She’ll check. He sits down and remembers Sonny saying he wanted to tell Michael in person. Michael tells him, usually when somebody says that, it’s not good news, but Sonny says, it’s good news, for him at least. He and Nina are eloping; they’re going down to the island. Michael says, congratulations are in order, and Sonny says he knows times have been tough this year, but he thinks they’ve moved past that, and Michael says, with everything that happened with Willow, he realizes how important family is. Sonny says, Nina is Michael’s family. He knows there’s been a strain between them… Michael says, that’s an understatement, and Sonny says, she’s tried to make an effort between Michael and Willow. What makes her happy is spending time with Amelia and Wiley. Michael says he has to admit things have been better with Nina, and he knows she’s trying to respect their boundaries. Sonny says, nothing would mean more to Nina than to have Willow at her wedding, and it would mean a lot to him to have Michael there. So is there any chance he’ll go?

Nina says, this is not Valentin’s fault. She wishes she had the answer. Charlotte is a teenage girl, and teenage girls can be very complicated. He says, she’s a Cassadine. Cursed, isn’t it? None of this godforsaken family gets to be happy. Nina says, please, don’t go there. This has nothing to do with a curse. Charlotte isn’t doomed. She’s an adolescent who got herself into trouble. She’s struggling, but they will get her help. He says, it’s so overwhelming, and she says she’s sure Anna’s been supportive. What does she think? He says he hasn’t told her. How is he going to tell her that his daughter is the one who’s been tormenting her? Charlotte’s the one who set the fire; she’s going to be facing very serious criminal charges. Nina says, they have to just be very grateful no one was in the house. If Charlotte did do this, she made sure of that. He asks if that’s supposed to make him feel better, but Nina says she’s just making the point that Charlotte isn’t trying to hurt Anna. She’s not a murderer; she’s just crying out for help. He says, it’s more than that. Charlotte’s terrorizing the woman he loves, and he’s trying to keep that from escalating, but is he doing the right thing by not telling Anna?

Carly says, Sonny knows how much Donna loves weddings. Of course (🍷) she can go. Sonny thanks her and she says she knows how happy Donna was at Michael’s wedding. Hopefully, both girls can go. He says, that’s the plan, and she asks if he’s called Ava, because Avery wouldn’t want to miss it. He says he called Ava, but she hasn’t gotten back to him yet. He hopes there’s no problem there, because it would not be the same without Avery. She says, it looks like he’s thought of everything for his tropical ceremony, and he says he’s trying. He thinks he covered all the bases. Oh no, wait. The favor she asked for Drew? He’s working on it. She says, let’s hope it comes in time to save Drew.

Gregory asks if Alexis is sure she wants to get into this. He’s heard a lot of stories about people who do Sonny’s bidding and sometimes it doesn’t end well. She says, ya think? She’s very well aware of the methods Sonny uses to handle things. This time, he would like it handled legitimately. He asks if she’s sure that she and Sonny don’t share any similarities, and she says she thinks she’s offended. He says he doesn’t know Sonny well, but from what he hears, Sonny has reputation for ruthlessness. He knows firsthand how ruthless Alexis can be… when it comes to the pursuit of truth in journalism. She says, really? Do go on. He tells her that he’s just saying she’s a force of nature when it comes to business, and that’s a good thing by the way. She says, this is really very entertaining. Trying to compliment her after calling her ruthless. That is some fancy footwork. He says, unfortunately, that’s the only footwork he’s capable of these days.

Kristina tells Dante that she knows Michael wants to make peace with dad. There’s definitely been a lot less tension lately. Dante says, yeah, but that’s a far cry from Michael attending the wedding. They have to start somewhere to get back to where they were. She says she doesn’t know if they’ll ever get back to where they were, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction. He asks, so is Michael going to the wedding or not? and she says, she doesn’t know. She hopes so. She’ll tell Dante one thing. She’s not excited to be on an island with him and Nina for the next few days. He says he thought she was Team Nina, and she says she is. She likes Nina a lot. Most important, dad loves her, but she hasn’t forgotten what Nina did to Michael and Willow. That’s some serous damage, and they both know their brother holds a grudge. He says, kind of just like… and they both say, dad. Blaze comes in, and Kristina introduces her to Dante. Blaze says, we meet again.

Michael remembers telling Sonny that he can’t give him an answer now. Not without talking to Willow first. Sonny says he gets it. He just hopes Willow does this for Nina, because the ceremony wouldn’t be the same without Wiley there. She wants Wiley to be the ring bearer, like he was at Michael’s wedding. He’s a pro now. Michael says, Willow has a lot going on right now and she just got back to work. He’s not sure she’s going to want to drop all that and get on a plane. Sonny says, okay. He just wanted Michael to think about it. In the present, Willow dashes over to Michael and says she heard he was waiting for her. Is everything all right? Did something happen with the kids?

Valentin tells Nina that he just doesn’t know what to do. They can’t involve the police. She says, no. They’re not bringing the police into this. She’s a teenager; she’s fifteen years old. If she did do this, and the police find out, they will send her away. He can’t let that happen. They’re just going to have to handle this themselves. He asks how they do that, and she says, they’re going to find a way to get through to Charlotte. They’re not giving up on her. He says he’s always appreciated her support, and she hooks her arm in his and says, even though they went their separate ways, she’ll always care about him. She loves Charlotte. He says he doesn’t know what he’d do without her help, and she says, about that. He’s going to have to deal with this on his own. That’s what she came by to tell him. She’s leaving town.

Anna tells Robert that she thinks Valentin feels this house is a way for him to focus on his daughter. He feels Charlotte needs a more stable environment. She’s had a very rough year. Robert asks if she didn’t tell him that Victor was keeping her at the boarding school, and Anna says, when she finally did come home, she’s been bouncing from house to house. First she was at Laura’s, then she lived with Dante. That’s not to say they weren’t there for her. They were very supportive, but Charlotte is fifteen, and along with that age comes anxiety and insecurity. He says, Mac was having a problem with Robin like that, and she says, Charlotte needs her father’s undivided attention. She totally understands that. She thinks maybe Valentin feels that buying a house for her is the first step in putting her on more solid ground. He says, in the meantime, Anna’s roughing it in the hotel, but she says she doesn’t call room service roughing it. She thought Robert didn’t want her with Valentin. He says he doesn’t. However, she should have the final choice in where she lives. She suggests they agree to disagree when it comes to the subject of her relationship with Valentin, and says she asked him here because she needs his help. He says, with? and she says, something crucial.

Sonny tells Carly that he pretty much politely demanded Alexis use that paper and her investigation skills to look into Judge Kim, because they have to figure out why he gave Drew such a harsh sentence. Carly says, they need to do more than look into Judge Kim. They need to get the judge to commute Drew’s sentence, or at least send him to a safer facility. Does Alexis understand that? He says, Alexis knows that the goal is to get Drew out of Pentenville, but it’s not going to happen overnight. The first thing she needs to do is a deep dive into Kim’s record. They have to figure out what makes him vulnerable. Then they have an opening. She asks if he thinks Alexis is going to come through, and he says he’s confident she’ll deliver for them.

Gregory apologizes to Alexis and says, that was meant to be a joke, but clearly it didn’t land. She says, he has every right to handle his disease any way he sees fit. If he wants to joke about it, joke about it. Go for it. He doesn’t have to edit his words with her. She’s going to follow his lead. He says he feels like he’s constantly thanking her for being understand, but thanks her again. She says, he doesn’t need to keep thanking her or apologizing. What’s that quote from that movie? Friendship means never having to say you’re sorry. He says he thinks that’s, love means… (Actually, I think her version makes more sense.) She says, he just doesn’t need to keep thanking her, and he says he still hasn’t told Chase. He knows she keeps telling him to wait until he’s ready, but when will that be? He can’t keep hiding behind his work here. He wakes up some mornings and he’s so determined to tell Chase the truth. Then he finds himself here instead. He used to lecture his students about procrastination. He’d tell them, putting off that term paper won’t make it easier. She says, this is a little bigger than a homework assignment. He’s going to tell Chase when he tells Chase. He says he’s just being selfish. He just wants more time with his son before his son looks at him with pity. Before he sees the disease, not his father. She says she thinks he’s wrong. She doesn’t think Chase is going to react that way at all, but Gregory will do what feels right for him and she’s not judging him. He says, speaking of judges, how are they going to handle Judge Kim?

Dante says, good to see Blaze again, and she says, good to see him too. She tells Kristina, Dante was her hero at the Nurses Ball, and he says he doesn’t like to brag. Kristina says, since when? and Blaze says, after Brook outed Linc on stage, Dante grabbed him and dragged him out of the MetroCourt. Nice work, detective. He says, just doing my job, ma’am, and Kristina says, that’s great. She almost forgot; her brother, the knight in shining armor. Blaze says, don’t think she’s forgotten how nice Dante was the day they ran into each other at Kelly’s, and he says, that was a few months ago. He saw Blaze at Kelly’s and Rocco had been watching her music videos; he’s a big fan. And they saw her at Rice Plaza years ago, and she was so gracious to them. Thanks. Blaze thanks him, and Kristina says, they’re practically BFFs. Who’d have guessed that?

Michael says, everything’s fine. He didn’t mean to worry Willow. She says, it must be something important for him to come all the way to GH, and they sit down. He says he wanted to tell her that Sonny paid him a visit earlier and apparently, he and Nina are eloping in Puerto Rico. She says, okay. The last time she spoke to Nina, Nina was knee-deep in wedding planning. It sounded like a huge event here in Port Charles. He says he guesses Nina changed her mind, and Willow asks if this means they get out of going to the wedding, but he says, no such luck. They’re definitely on the guest list. Sonny wants them to fly down to Puerto Rico.

Valentin says, she’s leaving town? but Nina says, it’s just for a few days. Don’t worry. She feels silly talking about it, given everything Valentin is going through, but she and Sonny are going to Puerto Rico; they’re eloping. He says he thought she was having a big wedding at the MetroCourt, and she says, that was the plan, but it got complicated, and it was really stressful. They just want to get married as soon as possible and the best solution was to have a small ceremony on Sonny’s island. He says, if that’s what she wants, he’s happy for her, and she says, he can always call her, but he says he’s not going to call her. He’s not going to interrupt her wedding. Unless she wants Sonny after him. Besides, Laura’s coming back from London. They’re going to figure out what to do about Charlotte together. Charlotte walks in and asks if Valentin is keeping things from her.

Robert says, Anna will do whatever she wants, so what does she need? She says, let’s just look at the recent events, starting with the shooting at the pool. She thinks that bullet was meant for Sonny, not her. Robert says, he’s got his fair share of enemies, and Anna says, so does she, but she thinks she’s being targeted in a completely different way. He says he doesn’t follow, and she says, after the shooting at the pool, her house was torched. Then her room here was vandalized. What does that tell him? He says, that her enemy is toying with her. They’re trying to break her down. What is she going to do about that?

Charlotte says, Valentin didn’t tell her Nina was coming over. She was putting her bike away, and she saw Nina’s car out front. She’s so happy to see Nina. They hug, and Nina says, it’s so nice to see Charlotte. How is she? Charlotte says, much better now that she’s living with papa, and Nina says, it’s a beautiful place. Is she settling in okay? Charlotte says, everything’s perfect. Can Nina stay and have lunch with them? Nina says, no, she’s so sorry. She just came over to tell Charlotte’s dad that she was leaving town for a few days. She and Sonny are going to Puerto Rico. Charlotte says, cool. She wishes she and papa could take a trip with Nina someday. Nina says she’s not sure Anna would be so thrilled with that, and Charlotte says she knows. She was just thinking how great it would be if they could go to Europe. Remember how they used to always talk about doing that? Nina says, that’s right. How about this? They plan a girls trip, just the two of them. Maybe she can convince Maxie to allow Georgie to come with them. She likes Georgie, right? (The way she says this, she may as well have been saying, Charlotte’s not going to set fire to Georgie, is she?) Charlotte says, yeah. She used to see Georgie a lot when her mom was still with them. But she’d rather just go with Nina if papa can’t come with them. Nina says, it’s a deal, and Charlotte says she loves Nina. They hug, and Nina says she loves Charlotte too.

Alexis tells Gregory, it looks like Judge Kim has a number of high-profile cases. His opinions that he wrote for his decisions read like bait for a promotion. Gregory asks, can you elaborate on that for those of us who didn’t attend law school? and she says, from what she can tell, it sounds like he’s trying to impress the Judicial Board in hopes of a higher appointment. Gregory asks how he goes about that, and she says, when judges are trying to climb the ladder, they set new precedents. And they do that with their opinions. And what they want is for those precedents to be appealed and upheld. So in simpler terms, it looks like Judge Kim is trying to get the attention of those above him. And if that’s the case, then maybe they can help him do just that.

Carly thanks Sonny for everything he’s doing for Drew’s case, and he says, Drew’s a good man. He doesn’t deserve what’s happening to him. And Drew being in prison affects her, and no matter what’s happened between them, she’s the mother of his children and he just wants her to be happy. She says, that means a lot. So from all the research Diane has gathered, it looks like Judge Kim is hoping for a promotion to the Federal Bench. She’s thinking he’d be more than happy to meet with the press and cooperate. He says, that gives Alexis a way in, and she says, that’s all they have for now. Sonny says, do him a favor and tell Drew to sit tight, because he’s doing everything he can behind the scenes to get him out of there. Carly says she will and asks if he ever found out who Austen was visiting in Pentenville.

Gregory tells Alexis, from the look on her face, he’d say she has a plan. What is she thinking? She says, her guess is, this guy has an ego; most judges do. He says he hears the same about lawyers, and she says she’s not sure who’s worse, but what she thinks is, this guy is really career oriented. He wants to get ahead which means he’ll be very susceptible to the lure of publicity. Gregory says, and that’s where she comes in, and she says, they call him in for an interview. They pump him up. They tell him that they’re interested in doing an article about his decisions, take some pictures, and hopefully he’ll eat it up. Gregory says, and then, she goes in for the kill and ask him about Drew’s sentence. She says, mm-hmm, and he says, good plan of attack. Like he said, ruthless.

Sonny tells Carly, unfortunately, they have no information on that yet. They don’t know who’s pulling the strings when it comes to Austen and Mason. She says, trailing Betty didn’t turn up anything? and he says he had Dex watching her every move, thinking she’d lead them to the boss, but that didn’t happen. They have someone watching Austin, and his guys are doing everything they can until he gets back from the wedding. She says, that’s what he should be concentrating on right now, and he says he knows. She says she’s going to have Donna packed and all ready to go. She can’t wait to see Donna’s face when she tells her. Please take a couple of pictures of Donna for her. He says, okay, and she says, let her know if he hears from Ava. She can just bring Avery here and he can pick up both girls at the same time. He says, thanks, that means a lot, and she says, it’s been a painful couple years. He agrees, and she says, and she just wants him to be happy too. He says, yeah. He feels the same way. They soap stare at each other for a moment, while the moss bowl🎍 yawns, and Sonny says he’ll see her.

Kristina says she’s flying down to Puerto Rico later for her dad’s wedding, and Blaze says, a destination wedding. How exciting. Dante says, they’re eloping, thank God, and Kristina says, Dante. He says he’s just telling it like it is. He thinks they’re being smart by keeping it a small, family ceremony. (Is that really eloping then?) Kristina asks why he says that, and he tells her, because he thinks if they had a big wedding in Port Charles, they’d be asking for trouble.

Anna says, this is where Robert comes in. She needs his help. Because she’s almost certain this threat is coming from inside the WSB. Or someone with access to the Bureau’s resources. He asks if she thinks this is the same person who outed her for being a double-agent, and she says she has her suspicions. Look at the timing; think about it. None of this started until she was exposed in the press. It has to be connected. It can’t just be a coincidence. He says, this is revenge from someone she’s wronged in a past case? and she says her actions hurt a lot of people who might want payback. He says, she hasn’t been an active operative in years. Could somebody hold a grudge that long? She says she doesn’t know. She just really needs his help to get some information from inside the Bureau. He tells her, as he said, since Frisco left, his influence there is limited. As for this new director, whatever influence he might have is going to be limited at best. She says, limited is better than non-existent. Please. Will he help her find out what is going on and who is after her?

Nina says, it was so good to see Charlotte. Does she remember their handshake? They do a fancy pattycake thing, and Nina says she has to go to the gallery. She’s been trying to get ahold of Ava with no luck, so she thought she’d try her there. Charlotte says she misses Nina so much. Please come over after her trip. Nina says she will, and kisses Charlotte’s forehead. Valentin walks her to the door, and outside, he thanks her for coming. It meant a lot to Charlotte. It’s good to see her smile. Nina says, they’re going to figure this out when she gets back, okay? and they hug as Charlotte watches. He tells Nina, have a nice trip, and Charlotte half smiles.

Willow says, fly to an intimate wedding? It would be one thing if it was 200 guests at the MetroCourt. They’d be able to blend into the background, but this… Michael says, yeah. It would just be family, so they’d be front and center. She says she knows she’s been pushing him lately to accept Nina, but this is a lot. He’s finally made peace with his dad and Nina, and it’s so new. He asks if she really wants to put it to the test.

Alone outside, Nina looks at a picture of Charlotte as a young child. She says, Charlotte, what happened to you? As she starts to go down the walk, her phone rings. Sonny asks, how is his bride-to-be? and she says she’s okay, but he says she doesn’t sound okay. What’s wrong? She says, it’s just been an emotional day. Where is he? He says he’s been all over town doing things, but he’s finished now. He’s all hers. She says, that’s all she’s ever wanted, and he says, then she better get packing. We’re getting married. She says, yes, we are.

On Monday, Nina says, this is the best wedding present she could ever ask for; Gregory tells Finn, now because of him, Chase is paying the price; Carly tells Alexis that there’s proof, and she can get it for her; and Cyrus asks what someone has in store for him.

🚗 Enjoy the Ride…

We say goodbye to Gladys. Her last scenes with Sonny were so much fun!

Bonnie Burroughs Says Goodbye to GENERAL HOSPITAL

🎤 Old Is New Again…

We say hello to Lois. Brook needs her mom, and hopefully, she’ll go head-to-head with Tracy.

A Sneak Peek at Rena Sofer’s First Scene Back at GENERAL HOSPITAL!

💰 Not As Rich As They Seem…

She has a point. It does seem like you get demoted to friend if you can’t keep up the image.

Bethenny Frankel Shades Andy Cohen for Dissing Gina’s House and Wonders If Shaming Housewives is Why They “Steal & Go Bankrupt” to “Look Rich”

Case in point? She seems like the kind of person who would ditch her financial responsibilities.

‘RHONYC’ Star Brynn Whitfield Evicted for $7K Unpaid Rent and Owes IRS Thousands!

🍊 Who’s a POS Cheater…?

I figured that’s what Jenn was referring to.

Past Interview Surfaces of Tamra Judge’s Ex Simon Accusing Her of Cheating With Eddie, After Tamra Slammed RHOC Costars Jen and Ryan Over Past Infidelity

🍸 Something About Her Living Her Best Life…

Can’t wait to read her book. This has been one of those rare times we got to see karma at work immediately.

Ariana Madix Shares Status on Sandwich Shop & Explains Delay, Plus She Gushes Over Beau Daniel’s DWTS Support, and Talks Single AF Cocktails Being Her “Breakup Album”

🍾 Words Of Wisdom…

She must be doing something right. She looks amazing. And what I said yesterday. It really is ridiculous how they all just keep circling the same dating drain.

Southern Charm’s Patricia Altschul Thinks Cast Should Stop Being ‘Incestuous’

⚰️ Put That Dead Thing Down…

I have to admit, I’m surprised, but he probably has a big fan base.

‘TWD Daryl Dixon’ Becomes Most Viewed Premiere and Season in AMC+ History (collider.com)

This sounds like a great convention.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/new-york-comic-con-2023-the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-rick-michonne/

I knew it. I knew I saw this scene somewhere and there had already been a connection to France.

https://undeadwalking.com/2023/10/05/walking-dead-world-beyond-two-years-ago/

🦃 The Forgotten Holiday…

That holiday we jump over between Halloween and whatever December holiday you celebrate now has its own slasher film. If Eli Roth is involved, it’s bound to be good.

https://ew.com/movies/thanksgiving-trailer-patrick-dempsey-eli-roth-addison-rae/

🎃 Not Halloween Without It…

Weird-ass vintage costumes. Just remember, that bag is not a toy, or a costume.

https://www.travelchannel.com/ghostober/photos/13-iconic-vintage-costumes-to-recreate-this-halloween?xp=sistersite

👻 It’s That Time Of Year…

One holiday where celebrities are just like us.

Celebrity Pets’ Best Halloween Costumes Over the Years

👄 Quotes of the Week

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. – Lao Tzu

Expecting life to treat you well because you are a good person is like expecting an angry bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian. – Shari R. Barr

Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great. – John D. Rockefeller

The deeper the truth in a creative work, the longer it will live. – Sir Charlie Chaplin

It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it. – Abraham Lincoln

He ain’t no Christian; he’s a dope fiend. – Judge Mathis

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. – Vincent Van Gogh

True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us. – Socrates

October is the fallen leaf, but it is also a wider horizon more clearly seen. It is the distant hills once more in sight, and the enduring constellations about them once again. – Hal Borland

🦖 Main Character Energy…

Join me again on Monday really Tuesday for soap and yachting with awful people. Until then, stay safe, stay treating and not tricking (take that however you like), and stay making parties celebrations not deadlines.

Aug26

August 25, 2023 – Cody Asks Sam For Help, Newbie, Atlanta Receipts, Called Out, No Shock, Leaky Deck, VanderLock, Tasty Move, New Horror, Dead News, Second Last, Stray Training, Apple Pups, 9 Crisp Quotes & Out

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Willow comes into the hospital, and Elizabeth asks if she’s had a setback, but Willow says, just the opposite. She wants to get back to work. Does Elizabeth have room for one more nurse?

Finn sets up the backgammon board, and Tracy says she hopes he’s been practicing. He’s going to need it. He asks if she’s kidding. He has an eight-year-old daughter, and there’s not a day that goes by that there isn’t new disease at the hospital to challenge him. Does she really think he has time to practice backgammon? She looks at him, and he says, okay. The minute he knew she was back in town, he started practicing his ass off. She says, good choice – she takes a paper out of her pocket – because according to her calculations, Tracy-47, Finn-29. He says, 47-29? She kept that all this time? She asks what he thinks and he says, of course (🍷) she kept it; she’s winning. She says she loves to win, and shakes the dice.

Cody says he’s desperate here. Sasha’s in trouble, and Sam could be his only chance. She says, to get himself locked up in Ferncliff? and he says, to help Sasha. She says she thinks it’s a terrible plan, but he says, it’s the only plan he’s got. Please. She says she won’t help him, much less be the one who commits him.

On his phone at the Crimson office, Sonny asks what Brick’s got for him. Has the fake information Betty stole from his computer been downloaded?… He gets that, but he’s impatient. It’s just that he wants some answers. He may have to figure this out. Nina comes out of the elevator, and Sonny says, he’ll see Brick later. Nina comes in and asks, what’s wrong? Sonny says, nothing. A beautiful woman is in front of him. What could be wrong with that? She says, nothing’s wrong with that, and they hug. Absolutely nothing.

At the pool, Molly thanks Alexis for coming, and Alexis says, of course (🍷) she would be here. She knows how much this means to Molly and TJ. Molly says she really wants Alexis to like her, and Alexis says she thinks it’s more important that Molly and TJ like her. Molly says, they really do, when Andrea comes in. Molly introduces her to Alexis, and they sit at a table. Kristina appears in the doorway and sees them.

On the phone, Brook says, so it’s all true?… She can’t say she’s completely surprised. She could kill her with her bare hands… No, no. Not them. A certain member of her family.

Tracy asks, how’s Finn’s father? and Finn says, he’s… fine. She says, fine? Really? She was supposed to have dinner a few days ago at the MetroCourt with her sister-in-law who had to cancel. There, she ran into Finn’s father, who coerced her into having dinner with him. Finn asks, how bad was the dinner? and she says, actually, the food was much improved now that Carly Spencer is no longer running the show. He says he meant, how was his dad’s company? and she says, he’s charming, but he couldn’t hide the fact that his hand was cramping. What’s wrong with him? Finn says he’ll have to ask her not to pursue that line of questioning, and she asks, why? He says he’d prefer not to lie to her, and she says, fine. He shakes the dice, and asks how Ned is doing. She says, he’s still singing on streetcorners and hanging out with her favorite person, Sonny Corinthos. And how is Detective Chase? He says, Chase is convinced Tracy is forcing Brook to give up her music career to work at Deception, and she says she needs to ask him not to pursue that line of questioning. He asks, why? and she says she’d prefer not to lie to him. He laughs.

Willow tells Elizabeth that she’s feeling stronger every day. She’s got her energy back and she’s really starting to feel like her old self again. Elizabeth says, that’s such great news, and Willow says she loves her time with Michael and the kids, but what she really wants is to get back to nursing. Taking care of people who need help, like she did when she was getting her transplant. This hospital is full of excellent nurses who took such amazing care of her and really supported her when she needed it. She’s not sure what she would have done without them. Elizabeth says, they do have excellent nurses here, but Willow wasn’t just any patient; she’s one of them. Willow says she wants to pay it forward and give that type of care to other patients who need it. Elizabeth says, that’s why they do this, and she’s all for Willow coming back to GH because she’s an amazing nurse, and she can’t wait to have Willow back on rotation, as soon as her doctors approve her return. It would be a bad way to repay all those nurses by coming back too soon and pushing herself too hard, compromising her immune system. Willow says, of course (🍷). She agrees. That’s why she’s here, to talk to Dr. Randolph and see when she’ll be approved. Elizabeth says, great. This place needs people like Willow, and she can’t wait to get that documentation that says Willow is ready to work.

Sonny says he doesn’t want to keep Nina from her work. Maybe she should see if something urgent came up. Nina says she’s just fine in his arms. Besides, there’s nothing that can’t wait. He asks if she’s sure about that, and she says she would have gotten a text or an email from one of her assistants. He says, maybe its one of those old fashioned phone things. Why doesn’t she just check it out? She asks why he’s acting so weird, and he says he doesn’t want her to miss something important. She goes to her desk and finds a jewelry box, and asks, what’s this? He says he doesn’t know; maybe she should open it. She opens it, and says, oh! revealing a stunning diamond pendant necklace. She says she loves it; it’s beautiful. He says, it’s going to be even more beautiful when he puts it on her, and she asks if it’s an apology for being so secretive with her. He says, yes and no, and she asks, which is it? He says, why doesn’t she turn around and he’ll put it on her. She says, it’s gorgeous (it gets my vote), and he says, it’s absolutely amazing, putting the necklace on her. He hooks the clasp, and she asks how it looks. He says, she looks beautiful and that just compliments it, and she says, he always has a way of making her feel special. What happened to him to put him so at ease? He says he’s just happy, but she says when she saw him in his office the other night talking to Ava, they both seemed pretty tense.

Sam says, even if she wanted to – which she doesn’t – she couldn’t have Cody committed because she’s not related to him. Therefore, there’s no legal standing to do it. He says, easy fix, and she says she can’t wait to hear this. He says he gives her power of attorney. She becomes his medical executor. She says, so he appoints her one day, and she has him committed the next. That’s not going to look suspicious at all, is it? He says, it’s good enough to get him into Ferncliff, and if people start asking questions afterward, who cares? She says she cares. This is a bad idea. He says, no, it’s not. It could work. She says, this is a pointless discussion because she’s not going to do it, and he says, why? She says, because she’s not going to do anything that’s going to make Sasha worse.

Andrea says, the view from up here is amazing, and Alexis says, you can see most of Port Charles from up here. Kristina says, TJ likes to come here and go swimming to blow off steam, and afterward they grab something to eat. Alexis notices Kristina, who ducks out. Molly and Andrea discuss the food there, and their favorite dishes. Alexis looks over and sees Kristina is gone.

Tracy says she wins, and Finn says he has the feeling that’s her favorite phrase. She says, it’s definitely one of her favorites. Isn’t he even going to try to beat her? He says, just wait til next game, and she says she appreciates his enthusiasm, adding something to the paper. She says, the running score is now 48 to 29, and he tells her that she doesn’t have to say it so loud. He’s surprised she doesn’t have her own Quartermaine score tab stationery with a little family crest on it. He can see it now; one for Brook, two for Tracy, Ned zero. She says, that’s a clever idea, and he says, you’re welcome. She asks what they’re going to talk about now that he’s removed his father from the topic of conversation and she’s removed her granddaughter? She knows he doesn’t want to waste any more time talking about stationery. He says he discovered a fascinating new bacteria… but she says, no. Infectious diseases is off the table. He says he has a topic, and she says, Monica’s cheap china or business cards? He says, what about Luke?

Gregory comes into the hospital, and Elizabeth asks if he’s here to see Finn, but he says, actually, he was hoping to have a word with her. She says, sure. Is everything okay? He tells her, let’s just say, it’s extremely important.

Sam tells Cody, they’ve been over this. Sasha has suffered a psychotic break. Right now she needs medical attention because she’s dangerous and delusional. He says, no, she isn’t, and Sam asks what he’s talking about. He has a scar on his side where Sasha stabbed him. He says he’s telling her that Sasha is being drugged, and somehow, Gladys is responsible for it. How is he the only one who sees it? She says, he may think that, but Sasha also has a history of mental illness, and he says he knows all about her history, but one minute she’s fine, and the next minute, she’s hallucinating. How does that happen? He’s telling her, something isn’t right. She says, okay. Say he does get in to see Sasha and he pushes her further into her delusion. He says he wouldn’t, but she says, he doesn’t know that. Or maybe even the worst-case scenario. Maybe she thinks he’s Cyrus Renault again and attacks him a second time, and he’s not so lucky and winds up in the hospital, or worse. He says he’s thought through all that. He’ll be on his guard this time, and he can defend himself from Sasha. She says she’s not worried about him, and he says, gee, thanks. She says she’s worried about Sasha and him traumatizing her more. Is he willing to take that risk?

Sonny says he understands why Nina feels excluded, and she says, good, because she did. First, Dex and Gabe wouldn’t let her in the penthouse. Then when she went to his office, she found him talking with Ava, and she seemed to be in the know about what was going on. He says, because he and Ava share Avery, and she says, but then he tells her that it’s for her safety that she doesn’t know. Who wouldn’t feel left out? He says, because some things in his business are better left unsaid. They’ve gone over this a thousand times and he doesn’t want to put her in danger. She says, he’s willing to put Ava’s life in danger? and he takes her hand. He says he came here to apologize for making her feel like an outsider. He doesn’t let her in on things because it puts her at risk. She knows everything else. She says she feels like Frank or Gabe when his office door is shut in her face, and he says he doesn’t ever want her to feel like an employee. She says she knew from day one what she was getting into when she fell in love with him, and she accepts all of him; this charming, amazing man in front of her, and the ruthless businessman. She loves all of him. He says he doesn’t ever want her to forget how much he loves her. That’s all that matters. She says, just let her in. Maybe she can help him. She can handle it. He says, some things are best not knowing.

Kristina goes to the reception desk and asks if Dr. Randolph is in. Walking by, Willow says, Dr. Randolph had an emergency that pulled her away, and Kristina hugs her. She says, Willow looks great. It’s nice to see her out. Willow says, it’s great to be out. She’s feeling a lot better. Kristina says she’s sorry she didn’t come see Willow. She didn’t know when Willow was accepting visitors again. Willow says, it’s okay. After she left the hospital, she had to restrict her visitors to a small group, since her immune system might be compromised, but now she’s almost fully recovered, so they can see each other any time. Kristina says, that’s amazing news, and Willow says she couldn’t be more grateful for what Liesl did for her. She’s actually here to see Dr. Randolph too. She’s hoping to get the all-clear to go back to work. What about Kristina? Is she okay? Kristina says, not really. Actually, it’s probably best she doesn’t see Dr. Randolph today.

Elizabeth tells Gregory, she’s officially on break, so she’s all his. What’s going on? Are Finn and Violet okay? He says, they’re fine, and they sit down. He needs her to accept his apology. She says, for what? and he says he’s been keeping something from her, from everyone close to him. But the time has come for him to be up front and transparent. He waited too long. He never should have agreed to watch Violet the other night. She asks, what happened? and he says he fell, and Violet came in and saw him on the floor. She says she’s sure it was scary for Violet, but she’s going to be okay. What about him? Is he hurt? Does he want to see a doctor? He says, no. The fall was nothing serious, but Violet was worried and so was he. He told Finn and now he’s telling her. He has ALS.

Tracy tells Finn that she keeps forgetting Luke is gone. The fact that he’s not around to drive her crazy is something she finds impossible to wrap her head around. Finn says, she really misses him, doesn’t she? and she says, yeah. He has her at loose ends, so she concentrates on her good friend – she nods to him – and focuses on a business project she’s involved in. He asks if she wants to talk about it, or is it one of those subjects they shouldn’t pursue a line of questioning? She says she prefers not to lie to him, and he laughs. Brook storms in and says, how could she? Tracy says, they’re in the middle of a game, and Brook swipes the board onto the floor. She says, now they’re not.

Nina and Sonny sit at a table, fully set for dinner in her office, and she says, one of the perks of having her office in the MetroCourt is that she can have them send dinner down when they’re feeling hungry and romantic. He says, speaking of romantic, they haven’t even talked about the details for the wedding, and she says, they’ve been a little preoccupied. Him with whatever he’s doing and Michael, and her with  the MetroCourt and the magazine and Willow. He asks if they can focus on themselves. They haven’t even set a date when she wants to marry him. She says she’s glad he asked because she wants a winter wedding, and she wants their table centerpieces to be filled with anemones and orchids and roses, and she was thinking about wearing an off-white gown. He says, she thought about this? and she says, a little. He says, a lot, and she says, if they have a winter wedding, she saw these amazing emerald and gold invitations; they’re gorgeous. And he would look dashing in a burgundy tux, and she could picture them in Crimson’s January issue. He says he’s not very comfortable with being splashed across her magazine, but he does like a winter wedding because they have time to plan and she can have what she wants. She says, there’s another reason she wants to wait for winter. She wants to make sure Willow is fully recovered. If they have a wedding before Willow is completely cleared, she thinks it would be disrespectful to her. He says, Nina wants her to come around so she can be part of the wedding.

Kristina says she doesn’t know if Willow heard, but she’s starting an LGBTQIA+ youth center here in Port Charles. Willow says, Michael told her. She thinks it’s an amazing idea. Kristina says she asked Dr. Randolph if she would be on the board of directors, and Willows says, she would be excellent. What did she say? Kristina says, she seemed interested, but she didn’t commit yet, so she’s here hopefully to convince her to get on board. (No pun intended?) Willow says, she will, and Kristina says she’s glad she ran into Willow first. She’s realizing she’s not quite in the right head space to talk to Dr. Randolph today, and the worst thing she could possibly do is throw herself into business to distract herself and potential risk messing things up for the foundation. Willow says, distract herself from what? and Kristina says, from feeling left out of her sister’s life.

Alexis asks what led Andrea to wanting to become a surrogate, and Andrea tells her, like she said, she’s married. She and Ben have a young son, Randy; he’s just a baby. Her husband is a plumber and she used to work as an executive assistant. Alexis says, so she’s no longer working, and Andrea says she really wanted to stay home with her son and not look for another job, and she and her husband decided being a surrogate would allow her to do that. Randy’s young enough that he won’t remember her being pregnant. Someday they’ll explain to him of course (🍷), when he’s old enough to understand. Alexis says, it’s good to come clean about things like that, and Andrea says, at this point, he’s so young, he won’t anticipate a sibling when he sees her pregnant. So it won’t mean anything to him. Alexis asks, what will it mean to her?

Cody tells Sam that he can’t think of anything more traumatic than Sasha being trapped in Ferncliff. Please, just hear him out. She sits down, and he says, so Sasha had a breakdown after her baby and husband died within a year. Then she started using drugs; that’s when she cracked. That’s when she smashed in the windshield. Sam asks if he’s trying to prove her point, and he says he gets it, but then Sasha got help. She made a full recovery and was doing so great, she was even able to go back on TV selling Deception’s beauty products. And just when she’s ready to dump Gladys as her guardian and start taking control of her own affairs, she cracks again, even worse than before, leaving greedy Gladys in control of her money. Come on. Doesn’t Sam find that way too convenient?

Finn points to the game on the floor and says he was going to win. It doesn’t matter; Tracy and Brook should talk. He’ll show himself out. Tracy says she apologizes for the rudeness of her granddaughter. She was clearly raised by her mother. He says he’ll call Tracy later and leaves. Brook asks why she did it. Why? Tracy says, do what? and Brook says, go after Deception and in the process hurt her friends. Tracy says, please. She’s told Brook time and again, there are no friends in business. Does Brook think her great grandfather could have built ELQ into what it is today by making friends? Besides, they got what was coming to them. Brook asks how she can say that, and Tracy says, Lucy Coe stole the designs for The Deceptor. Brook says, from who? Tracy? Tracy says, no, and Brook asks, then who? Tracy says, from the company she’s working with, and Brook says, so there it is. Tracy just revealed the whole plot. Tracy used her. Tracy says, Brook used her to get Chase back his job, and Brook says, and Tracy used that to blackmail her into hurting her friends so she could help some random company. For what? Some revenge on Lucy Coe? Some bizarre vendetta? What’s happened to her? My guess: Tracy is working with Martin’s ex-wife number three, whose idea he inadvertently passed to Lucy.

Cody tells Sam, Sasha isn’t in Ferncliff because she’s a danger to him or herself. She’s in Ferncliff because she’s a threat to Gladys controlling her money. Sam asks if he really believes Gladys had Sasha drugged and sent to Ferncliff so she could remain in control of Sasha’s assets, and he says he’s played cards with Gladys. She’s an addict, like anyone who’s addicted to booze or coke. She says, that’s a big accusation to make, and he says, yeah, and Gladys has an even bigger debt to pay. Addicts are liars. He has no idea what lies Gladys has told herself to justify what she’s doing to Sasha. Frankly, he doesn’t care. All he cares about here is the victim. So is Sam going to let Sasha just rot in Ferncliff, or is she going to help him get in there and help her?

Sonny tells Nina, Willow’s on the road to making a full recovery, so they have to believe that. Nina says she does. She saw Willow earlier at Kelly’s and she looked a lot better. She just doesn’t want to tempt fate. He says, she’s going through a lot; she’s been through a lot. She’s a fighter. Nina says, she is a fighter, but it’s hard not to worry about her, and he says, they’re always going to worry about their kids. Nothing’s going to change that. But Nina’s been doing a lot of praying, and her prayers seem to be answered. Nina says, Sonny knows her a little too well, and he tells her not to forget that. He knows how important it is to have Willow at their wedding. Nina says, they’ve made a lot of progress. They’ve had some really good conversations, and Willow has made it clear she wants more of a relationship with her. He says, that’s great, and she says, it’s just going to be a long, hard road to rebuild that trust, but she wants Willow at the wedding, and they both know she won’t attend as long as Michael’s not there. (I dunno about that.) How does he feel about that? He says, if Michael wants to show up, nothing would make him happier. If you’d asked him six months ago if there was a chance Michael would come to their wedding – they laugh – he would say, no way. But you‘ve got to have hope, and he and Michael are doing a lot better. She says, that’s great, because she knows how important that is to him. He says, they’ve got to be thankful for everything they’ve got, and things seem to be looking up for them.

Willow says, Kristina can talk to her. What happened? Kristina says she knows she can trust Willow with this, and the secret is going to be out in nine months anyway. Molly and TJ have been having some infertility issues; Molly specifically has been. Willow says, poor Molly, and Kristina says, she’s been taking it really hard, and ever since they found out, she – they – have been talking about ways to have a baby of their own. So Kristina stepped up and committed the unpardonable sin of offering to be their surrogate. Willow says, wow. That is quite an offer. She’s taking it that it didn’t go over well. Kristina says, but it should have. You’d think Molly would see it as the selfless and loving gift she intended it to be. Instead, she’s insulted and completely shut Kristina out.

Andrea says she’s sure Alexis knows, there’s no greater joy than being a mom, and she was blessed with an easy and healthy pregnancy. If she can somehow pass that joy on to Molly and TJ by being their surrogate and giving them the gift of being parents, she’s also providing for her family and she’s willing to do it. Molly says, she and TJ can’t thank Molly enough. And they’ll both be there for Andrea every step of the way. Andrea says, luckily, she does know what to anticipate with the pregnancy, and going into it, knowing she’s carrying Molly and TJ’s baby and not her own, will make it possible for her to do this. That’s why she signed the contract. Alexis says she knows something about contracts, having been a lawyer for most of her life. She also knows what they can’t do. They really can’t capture the emotional part of what it means to have a child. So she thanks Andrea. It’s an incredible gift Andrea is giving to her child.

Elizabeth says she’s so sorry this is happening to him, and Gregory thanks her. It’s been a struggle to wrap his mind around it. (There’s a lot of that going around.) He put off facing it for as long as he could, which is why he hid his diagnosis from Finn and Chase for so long. He still hasn’t found the strength to tell Chase. Now that Finn knows, on the one hand, he’s relieved; on the other hand, he knows his son. She says, he’ll do everything he can for Gregory, and he says, that’s what he’s afraid of. Finn will act as both his doctor and his son, and he’ll forget to feel. But he’ll need to be in touch with those feelings, and for that he’ll need Elizabeth. Gregory dreads what’s ahead for him, but knowing Finn has her beside him, supporting him, he can dread it a little less.

Tracy says, what’s happened to her? What’s happened to Brook? Chase has softened her beyond recognition. Brook says, thank you, but Tracy says, that wasn’t a compliment. Brook says, Luke’s death has hardened Tracy more than she could have possibly imagined. She’s not only destroyed a company, she’s destroyed dreams. Does she understand that? Tracy says, please, and Brook says, if there’s any merit to this suit, it could bankrupt Deception. Tracy says, well, then Lucy Coe hasn’t kept very good books if her company’s that financially fragile, and Brook says, she’s unbelievable. This could leave Deception vulnerable to a hostile takeover. Or it could crumble before it ever has a chance to get back up on its feet. Tracy says, that’s the plan.

Elizabeth says she’ll do everything she can to support Finn, and Gregory. And she’ll be there for Chase and Violet. Gregory tells her that he had no doubt she’d say that, and thanks her. She asks, who else knows? and he says, at this point, it’s her, Finn, and Alexis Davis. He knows he’s being a coward, but he’s dreading telling Chase. She says, he’s anything but a coward. Facing this alone for months takes way more strength than he’s willing to admit. He’ll find the right moment to tell Chase. He says, Chase is the baby of the family, but boy, the optimist; the one who believes no matter how bad things get, it’s going to be okay in the end. He doesn’t know how to tell Chase that he’s sick, getting sicker, and one day, he’ll be helpless. There are days when he doesn’t believe it himself, but then his hands cramp up, or he struggles to stand up, or he falls down like he did with Violet, and it hits him. He’s going to die. This is real. She says, yeah, it’s real. There are still good days ahead, and she’s going to help him enjoy them. He thanks her and they hug, and Finn sees them.

Brook says, what plan? What is Tracy really after? She hasn’t been interested in ELQ in years, and that’s money to run a small country. What’s really going on here? Who sets out to ruin people’s lives? Oh wait. She’s sorry. Of course (🍷). A Quartermaine. Well look how well that’s turned out for this family. No wonder her dad woke up thinking he was someone else. Who’d want to be Tracy’s kid? Brook stomps out, and Tracy ponders this.

Andrea thanks Molly and Alexis for the lovely meal and even lovelier company. She’s so glad she’s in the position to help Molly and TJ. Molly says, they’re the fortunate ones to have found Andrea, and Andrea tells Alexis, it’s been a pleasure. Alexis says, it was a pleasure for her as well. It was a wonderful night. Andrea leaves, and Molly asks what Alexis thinks, and please, be honest. This is too important for anything else. Alexis says she likes Andrea. She thinks Andrea has a good head on her shoulders, and a good understanding of what it’s like to be a surrogate. Molly says she’s so relieved to hear Alexis say that, and Alexis says she thinks Molly and TJ are going to make fantastic parents. Molly thanks her, and they hug.

Kristina tells Willow, if she’s honest, it feels like Molly is punishing her because she can have a baby and Molly can’t. She knows that sounds harsh. Willow says, Kristina has a right to her feelings. She won’t pretend to know the answers, but one thing she’s learned is that babies are great bridge builders. Once the child is there and you’re interacting with this small miracle and the immediacy of them, it makes the old wounds seem less painful. So don’t assume she and Molly will feel this way forever. It’s very possible once the baby gets here, Kristina will just be aunty and Molly will be mom, and neither one of them will feel the need to be so territorial. It’ll all get easier. Kristina says she really hopes Willow is right, and she hopes the same for Kristina and Nina. She knows there’s negative history there and she gets it, but she’s been spending some time with Nina and she’s really a good person. Kristina’s dad loves her a lot. Maybe it’s like Willow just said, the immediacy will make the old wounds seem less painful. She hopes things get easier for Willow too, and Nina. Willow says she likes the sound of that.

Nina says, she and Sonny need to have these romantic dinners more often, and he says he knows. He’ll see what he can do. They kiss and his phone rings. He says he’s got to get this, and she says, go. He steps away and asks, what’s the update?

Cody says, what if it was Sam in Ferncliff? Or one of her sisters? Alone and afraid, being held against your will, being told by the doctors and staff that you’re crazy. Wouldn’t she want someone to check on her and make sure she’s safe? Wouldn’t she want someone to do something for her if she wasn’t? Wouldn’t she want someone to save her if they could? Or would she prefer everyone just stands on the sideline, does nothing, and hopes for the best? Because when that doesn’t work out, her and everyone she loves are going to regret it for the rest of their lives. Sam says, okay. She’ll do it. She’ll have him committed.

On Monday, Marshall asks if Portia has any good news; Lucy calls Martin an idiot; Trina tells Josslyn, there’s got to be a way to bring them back together; and Stella tells Curtis that he’s not giving up.

⚖️ New Lawyer In Town…

Too bad Nora wasn’t available. Then we’d have both Pine Valley and Llanview representing.

Carly Hughes Cast on GENERAL HOSPITAL!

🍑 Peach Of a Reunion…

I’ve been watching this off and on, but I still can’t get the image out of my head of Shereé and Marlo screeching at each other in gibberish back in (I think) season 4. No one seems to have matured much since then either.

VIDEO: See RHOA Season 15 Reunion Trailer! Kenya Serves Marlo a Subpoena, Drew’s “Incriminating” Texts With Ty Are Exposed as Ralph & Drew Face Off, and Kandi Accuses Drew of “Gaslighting”

🍊 Clap This…

Tamra can make justifications and excuses all she wants, but that episode was disgusting, and she hasn’t changed for the better in all these years.

RHOC’s Tamra Judge Claps Back After Bethenny Calls Out “Naked Wasted” Drama With Gretchen and Accuses Her of Going After Son Ryan, Plus Claims Narrative Aired is “Completely False”

🛟 His Ship Is Sinking…

Never liked him. Never will.

Former ‘Below Deck’ Production Member Accuses Gary King of Sexual Misconduct

https://people.com/below-deck-sailing-yacht-gary-king-accused-alleged-sexual-misconduct-7852575

⛴ The Latest In Decks…

Not sure how I’m going to feel about Captain Lee’s replacement.

Everything That’s Leaked About Below Deck Season 11

🍸 Because Can’t Let It Go…

Why doesn’t he just leave already? No matter what she says, this can’t be comfortable for her.

https://ew.com/tv/vanderpump-rules-ariana-madix-sleeps-with-door-locked-tom-sandoval/

At least she has something to balance it out.

Ariana Madix Opens up About ‘Calming’ Relationship With Daniel Wai

🍜 Tastes Change…

It’s a wonder she didn’t end up in the hospital from exhaustion.

Padma Lakshmi Reveals Why She Left Top Chef

👹 Delicacies Of Horror…

Some of what to expect in AHS season 12.

https://ew.com/tv/everything-we-know-about-american-horror-story-12-delicate/

AHS trivia. Maybe they should do an AHS: Barbie.

https://ew.com/tv/margot-robbie-almost-starred-in-american-horror-story-asylum/

⚰️ Dead Review…

Apparently, it doesn’t take much to impress him. Just because you’re not repeating the same lines over and over doesn’t make it art. TBD.

https://winteriscoming.net/2023/08/24/norman-reedus-teases-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-making-art/

For the life of me, I can’t remember this guy.

https://undeadwalking.com/2023/08/24/fear-walking-dead-watch-return-troy-otto/

Teasing Rick and Michonne. Mostly Michonne.

https://undeadwalking.com/2023/08/22/walking-dead-ones-live-teaser-cast-release/

Maggie’s plans in the City.

https://undeadwalking.com/2023/07/26/walking-dead-city-season-2-maggies-plan-negan/

🏞 Mapping the Last…

They’re ready to roll. Now if the strike would just end.

https://ew.com/awards/the-last-of-us-season-2-mapped-out-craig-mazin/

🐶 No Dogs Under 17 Allowed…

I think this says it all: For years, I have been saying, Somebody needs to make an R-rated talking dog movie, the animal trainer says.

https://people.com/strays-dog-casting-training-exclusive-7692967

🦮 Pets in 3D…

I love it! Kudos to Apple. 🍎

https://people.com/dogs-with-prostheses-star-apple-iphone-campaign-the-invincibles-7724735

🐝 Quotes of the Week

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. – Neale Donald Walsch

You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you had to overcome to reach your goals. – Booker T. Washington (Well, if I ever reach my goals, it will be one helluva yardstick.)

New beginnings are disguised as painful endings. – Lao Tzu

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave. – Calvin Coolidge

Nobody can make you a doormat unless you lay down on the floor. – Judge Star Jones, Divorce Court

Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us. – Susan L. Taylor

Today stretches ahead of you waiting to be shaped. You are the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to you. – Steve Maraboli

The fruit of your own hard work is the sweetest. – Deepika Padukone

Don’t spend major time on minor things. – Jim Rohn

🍒 Outside the Club…

While you’re enjoying what’s left of the summer, stop by on Monday really Tuesday for soap and random cups of tea. Until then, stay safe, stay tempering your ambition with courtesy, and stay being thankful for everything you’ve got.

Jul6

July 5, 2023 – Willow Lets Nina In Her Bubble, OC On the Ranch, Celebrate, Shhh, Drunk Dial, Who’s Out, Deck Food, VanderShade, After, Pets (!) & Sea

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Nina tells Sonny that she has everything she wants; the man she loves, a wedding on the horizon, and barely a cloud in the sky. He says he doesn’t see any clouds, and she says, just one. Willow’s going to be home soon, but without her.

Willow tells Michael that she thinks her bubble should include Nina. She knows how he feels about Nina, but if she can only include a few people each day until her immune system kicks in… He says, she wants her mom to be one of them, and she says, they’ve been given a miracle here. Shouldn’t they share it? Not only with the people who deserve it, like his mom, but also the people who don’t, like her mom.

Sam asks if Carly is thinking of refinancing the house, but Carly says, no. She doesn’t think she could afford the monthly payment, and isn’t sure the bank would even refinance her. Sam says, so they can take the idea of mortgage off the table, and Carly says, absolutely, because she’s selling the house.

Diane meets Tracy at a table by the pool, and Tracy says she appreciates Diane’s punctuality. It’s the little things that engender trust. Diane is glad Tracy finds her trustworthy, but she was on her way to meet a client when she got Tracy’s message. Tracy offers Diane a seat, and Diane asks if Tracy also meets with the Quartermaine legal team poolside, but Tracy says, they don’t have Diane’s ability to think outside the box. Diane thanks her for the flattery, but says, it’s unnecessary. Just tell her what she’d like. Tracy says she’d like to hire Diane, and slides a check across the table.

Mac asks if Cody just said he considers him a friend, and Dante says, Cody is lucky to have a friend like Mac. It’s a wicked world out there, and it’s easy to make the wrong choices.

At the Deception office, Sasha takes one of her prescription pills, when Lucy and Brook come in. Brook asks if it’s true. She heard Cody’s been cleared and the charges have been dropped. Lucy says, Sasha must be absolutely thrilled, but Sasha says she wouldn’t go that far. Lucy says she’s entitled to feel happy for her friend. They’re going to celebrate that as soon as they take care of business. She looks at her phone, and wonders where Maxie is.

Martin leaves his hotel room, and posing as a staff member, Felicia slips inside.

Diane looks at the $40K check, and tells Tracy that it’s an impressive offer, but she already has all the clients she can handle. Tracy is sure Sonny keeps Diane busy, not to mention Carly and all her current legal woes, but she has the feeling once Diane hears what she has to say, Diane is going to want to fire all her clients and work for Tracy exclusively. Diane says she’s neither accepted Tracy’s check nor pushed it back across the table, so please continue. Tracy says she’d like to report a robbery, and Diane says, that’s a matter for the police, but Tracy says she’s not talking about a car or a computer. What she’s talking about is worth a king’s ransom – or if Diane prefers, a queen – and this queen would like the thieves to pay dearly for what they stole. She gives Diane a folder, and Diane admits she’s intrigued. What exactly was stolen? She looks in the folder, and says, The Deceptor?

Brook asks why the meeting is so hush-hush. Are they introducing a new product that’s going to be bigger than The Deceptor? Lucy says, she’ll know soon enough, and tells Sasha, the Twittersphere didn’t have a lot of detail, but how did Cody skate on those charges? Brook asks if Cody was telling the truth, and Gladys put the bracelet in his jacket pocket, but Sasha says, no. It turns out the bracelet was just misplaced, and Gladys made an honest mistake in blaming Cody. Brook says, so Sasha and Gladys are on good terms then? and Sasha says, never better. Lucy says, what about Sasha and Cody?

Cody says, Dante and his wicked world, and tells Mac that when they were in summer camp, Dante would tell stories about mysterious creatures that were half-man, half-monster, who stalked the forest eating lost campers. Dante says, they’re real; they looked like Scotty Baldwin. Mac’s phone rings, and he steps away to take the call. Maxie asks if Felicia is with Mac. Georgie and Baby Lou are with Liesl, but she’s late for a meeting and she has no one to watch James. Mac hears James in the background, and says, it sounds like she needs an entire squad team. Don’t worry. He’s on his way. Dante asks if there’s trouble, and Mac says, just the kind that every parent knows. He congratulates Cody about the charges being dropped, and leaves. On the way out, he sees Martin, and asks if Martin took his advice about Lucy. Martin says, about not keeping things from her. The advice was taken. Mac tells him to have a nice day, and leaves. Martin takes his jacket and shoes off, and lies on a chaise lounge. Tracy watches him.

Willow tells Michael, now that Sonny is planning on marrying Nina, they can’t keep wishing she’ll disappear out of their lives. Like it or not, Sonny and Nina are part of the family. He still backed off on taking down his dad, right? He says he still hasn’t forgiven Sonny for what Sonny did to his mom and their family, but he’s not wasting any more time on a vendetta to make Sonny pay for the pain he caused. She says she’s proud of him for that, but doesn’t want to waste any more time either. She’s missed so much already. Michael says, she came back to them, and Willow says, Nina is part of them. She’s part of Willow, whether she likes it or not. Willow doesn’t expect Michael to forgive Nina, but she spent all those years building a relationship with Harmony despite her many flaws, because Harmony was her mother. Nina is her biological mother. Shouldn’t she give Nina the same consideration? She wants to get to know the mother she never had, and wants her mother to get to know her.

Sonny tells Nina that he could speak to Willow. Now that she’s had this life changing experience, maybe she can see things different. Nina says, that’s exactly what Michael said he didn’t want Sonny doing, and she’s not putting him in that position. To act as a go-between, and plead with Willow… If it came from Willow herself, that’s one thing, but they both know Willow will never give her a chance. He tells her, never say never. She lost Willow before and found her. Then she thought she lost Willow to leukemia, and what happened? Nina asks if he’s saying, where there’s life there’s hope. She never took him as the greeting card type. He says he’s a realist. He’s seen the toughest guys just melt over holding a baby in their arms. He’s also heard about women not even as big as Willow picking up an SUV with an injured child underneath. He believes in miracles. It was a miracle he didn’t die in that river. And where did he end up? Nixon Falls. She says, he’s not only a realist, but he’s a romantic, and she loves that about him. But they have to be honest, there are some people who think them finding each other wasn’t a miracle; more like a catastrophe.

Sam says, Carly can’t mean that, as the moss bowl🎍frets about having to move, and Carly says, it’s not like she wants to, but at the end of the day, it’s just a real estate transaction. This house is too big for her and Donna anyway, and Josslyn will be going to PCU in the fall. She and Trina are moving into an off-campus apartment. This is perfect. Sam says she needs to think this through, and Carly says, it’s not like she grew up in this house, and from the money she makes on the sale, she and Donna will be able to move into a condo on Charles Street and live off the rest. Sam says, that makes a lot of sense, except for one thing. Carly keeps calling this a house when it’s her home.

Sam says she’s talking to Carly as her friend, and asking her to please consider the consequences before she minimizes it down to a real estate transaction. Carly says she doesn’t have the luxury of being sentimental. Look at Drew. He sacrificed himself for her; his freedom. Sacrificing a house seems small in comparison. Sam asks what Carly thinks Drew would say about her selling the house, and Carly says, he wouldn’t like it, but he doesn’t have to know. Please… Sam says, of course (🍷). She wouldn’t say anything to Drew – it’s not her place – but he’s bound to find out. Carly says, by then, it will be too late. It’s her choice. It’s her decision. Sam says, of course (🍷) it’s her choice, but when she puts that for sale sign in the front yard, think about how Donna’s going to feel. She loves this house. Carly says she knows Donna loves it and she’s going to miss it, but she’ll understand. Sam says, she will, but will Carly? When she and Sonny got divorced, the only thing Carly hung on to, the only thing she fought for, was this house. Is she really ready to just let it go?

Sonny says, he and Nina both know they can’t turn back the clock. They can’t undo the hurt they’ve caused in the past. But Nina has to understand, if it wasn’t for her Aunt Liesl, Willow would have never had the bone marrow transplant. Maybe she would have died. Nina did that for her; she gave Willow the gift of her family. If Michael and Willow can’t acknowledge that… Nina’s family saved Willow’s life. Sonny’s phone rings, and he says he was just thinking about them. How’s the patient? Michael says, they just got the all-clear. Willow’s going home.

Nurse Clara says, Willow must be thrilled to be going home, and Willow says she can’t thank Clara enough for all the care she’s given her. Clara says, it’s all part of the job, but Willow says, no. She may not have worked here very long, but Clara went way beyond the call of duty. She’s the one who got Willow to see that this isn’t all about her. Clara says she assumes Willow means being reunited with her little ones, and Willow says, of course (🍷), but also with someone else. Clara says she was right, wasn’t she? A girl needs her mom.

Michael says, before Willow leaves the hospital, there’s something she needs, and Sonny says, of course (🍷). Just name it. Michael says, she needs her mom.

Tracy says, as Diane can see, the file contains a timeline detailing the development of The Deceptor, and the skyrocketing sales once it was released. Diane says, these documents look very confidential. How did Tracy get them? Tracy flashes back to Brook giving her the flashdrive, and Tracy tells Diane, never mind how she got them. How did Deception get them? And don’t tell her that they sprang fully formed from Lucy Coe’s questionable brain. Diane says, of course (🍷) not. A product like this often has years of research and development. And yet… Tracy says, and yet, the timeline confirms they suddenly showed up in Deception’s files as early as last autumn. Diane says, cards on the table. Is Tracy saying The Deceptor is stolen intellectual property? Tracy says she’s not saying it; Diane is.

Sasha says, yes. Cody is her friend, and she’s very glad his name was cleared. Lucy says, no thanks to Gladys, and Brook says, Gladys was pretty useless as her assistant, but she did seem pretty dedicated to nailing Cody. Sasha says, from Gladys’s point of view, Gladys was just looking out for her. Her only crime is caring too much. Brook says she knows Sasha is loyal to Gladys, but she’s still going to push to end the guardianship, right? and Sasha says she’s more determined than ever. And thanks to the help of her psychiatrist, she believes the court will decide she’s ready to be on her own. In fact, she’s going to go celebrate her upcoming freedom with a latte from Perks. She asks them to excuse her, and leaves.

Dante asks what Cody and Scotty were talking about. He bets 10 to 1 the words get rich quick were involved. Cody says, he and Scotty have a connection, remember? and Dante says, Dominique Baldwin. Cody says, not only was she his mom, she was also the love of Scotty’s life at one time. Dante asks why that connection means so much to Cody, when the other connection of Mac being his dad doesn’t mean anything to him, and Cody says, Mac’s better off not knowing. Dante says, Mac’s better off or Cody’s better off? Because it seems like whatever Cody and Scotty have cooking is on the wrong side of the law. He’s the law, right? And if Cody’s in over his head, like he has been ever since he dropped in that pool… Cody says, just drop it, okay? and Dante says, all right. Cody doesn’t want to talk to him, he knows who Cody can talk to.

Mac walks into Maxie’s, and James asks if he can come live with him. He’s tired of being the only boy. Mac tells Maxie to go to her meeting. He’s got this. She asks if he’s sure, and James says, go, mommy. They’ve got this. Maxie opens the door, and Felicia is there. She apologizes for being late, and Maxie says, tell it to the cops. Apparently, they got this. She leaves, and Mac asks, what kept her? She says she took a job, and he asks, what job? She says, the kind she knows best. She’s not just James’s grandma; she’s also, Felicia Scorpio, private eye.

James asks, what’s a private eye? and Felicia says, it means she solves mysteries, like in his Hardy Boys books or his Scooby-Doo cartoons. James asks if she does what grandpa does, and she says, it’s very similar. She’s going to need James’s help. Can he find her one of his mommy’s old sheets? The rattier the better. He says he knows where to look, and runs off. Mac says, if this is about Cody, she can stand down. The charges were dropped. She says, that’s good news, but her case has nothing to do with Cody. She’s doing this for an old friend. He asks if it’s someone he knows, but James comes back with the sheets, and says, that’s private. Remember? She’s a private eye, and private means you don’t talk about it. Felicia says, yeah, grandpa. Now that James is her official sidekick, she needs him to spread the sheet out on the floor, and maybe grumpy grandpa will help him if he feels like it. Mac says he doesn’t know how he feels about that title, but he’ll help. He and James spread out the sheet, and Felicia says, now they get to work and look for clues… by sorting through garbage. She dumps a bunch of trash on the sheet, and James says, awesome.

Cody says, Dante wants him to talk to Mac? Talk about beating a dead horse. Mac is literally the last person he can talk to. Dante says, no. Mac’s literally the person Cody is choosing not to talk to. And he’s Cody’s father. If Scotty’s gotten him into trouble, talk to Mac. Tell him what’s going on. He’ll hear Cody out and maybe help him out of the mess he’s in. Cody asks, what if he doesn’t want out of it? What if he’s the one driving the situation, not Scotty? Did Dante ever consider that?

Maxie says she’s sorry she’s late. What is this big emergency? Lucy says, good. Maxie’s here now. She can break the news. There’s no easy way to say it, so she’s just going to say it. They have a snake in their midst.

Tracy tells Diane, it makes her very happy that a lawyer as sharp as Diane is thinking what she’s thinking, because it makes her believe a judge might agree with Diane. Diane asks if she’s actually accusing Sasha, Lucy, and Maxie – not to mention her own granddaughter – of stealing the idea for The Deceptor, but Tracy says she’s not accusing anybody of anything… yet. Diane says, then what is she doing here? Can Tracy at least tell her who it was stolen from? Tracy says, it’s time for Diane to put her cards on the table. Is she in or is she out?

Carly tells Sam, this house has been her home for a long time, and she’s not going to deny how much it means to her. It’s the only house Donna’s ever known, and after her marriage ended with Sonny, and after she lost the MetroCourt, this house was the one thing outside of her kids that she could hold on to. Even now, she can stand in this room and she can hear every laugh. She can feel every tear, and can even taste every meal they’ve shared. And the memories of Josslyn growing up here, the memories of Morgan, those memories… They’re going to be in her heart forever. Sam asks if she’s really ready to let that all go, and Carly says she doesn’t have a choice. She’s a survivor and she has to adapt. And as hard as it’s going to be to walk out that front door and never come back, that’s what she’s going to have to do.

Sonny and Nina come out of the hospital elevator, and Nina flashes back to telling Ava that when Willow finds out she’s the one who turned in Carly and Drew, any chance that she has of forging a relationship with her is gone. Sonny asks, what’s wrong? and she says she’s not as brave as she thought she was. She’s going to mess this up. She can’t do this.

Clara asks if Nina is Willow’s mom by any chance, and Nina says, yes. Clara says, Willow told her that she’d asked to see Nina. She’s so happy for Nina and her daughter, but she’s going to need to put this on first. She gives Nina a mask, and says, it’s nice meeting her. Instead of saying, likewise, Nina says, okay, and Clara leaves. Michael comes out, and says, Willow’s ready to see her. Nina puts the mask on, and goes into Willow’s room.

Carly says she’s sorry. Sam didn’t come over to hear about her problems. Sam says, don’t be sorry. She asked how Carly was feeling. She’s glad Carly feels close enough to her that Carly can lean on her. It hasn’t always been that way. Carly says, her loss, and Sam says, hers too. She always considered Carly Jason’s friend. She’s glad that’s changed. Carly says she’s not just losing a house; she’s gaining a friend. Sam says, Carly never lost her, and as far as selling the house, she suggests they put a pin in it. They can think things through. See if Carly has other options. Carly says she doesn’t have any other options. And those memories she talked about aren’t bound by four walls and a roof. They’re going to come with her wherever she goes, and they’re going to be the foundation she builds on. Not just the new home she creates, but the new version of herself. Sam says, there’s that fighting spirit, and Carly says she’s done this before. And this time when she’s finished, she’s going to get back everything she’s lost.

Sonny tells Michael that Willow’s amazing. He knew she was tough enough to take on cancer, but to open her heart to Nina was… Michael says, she didn’t open her heart; she just opened a door. It remains to be seen if Nina will make Willow regret it.

Nina says, considering everything Willow’s been through, she looks wonderful. Some color in her cheeks again… and her eyes. Willow says, the staff here have taken excellent care of her, but now it’s time to go home. Nina says, Willow must be anxious to get back to Wiley and Amelia. Is there anything she can do to help? Willow says, as a matter of fact, there is. Once she gets settled in at home, she’d like Nina to come for a visit.

Brook says, a snake? and Lucy says, it all began with what she thought was just going to be a normal routine report from their IT department. But instead, it was anything but routine what they found yesterday – and unauthorized download from their executive shared drive. That download contained data that was highly confidential about The Deceptor. Maxie says, that data is password protected, and Lucy says, it was. Only them. They know the password. Maxie asks if she’s saying one of them logged on to the shared file and stole all the data on The Deceptor, but Lucy says, she’s not saying one of them. She’s saying Maxie stole it.

Diane says if she’s going to take Tracy on as a client, she needs more, and Tracy says, there’s plenty more where that came from, touching the check. Diane says she’s not talking about the money… entirely. She needs to be able to connect the dots, starting with who actually owns the intellectual property rights, and ending with who has them now and how they plan to reproduce the product. Tracy says she’ll get Diane everything she needs to proceed once Diane lets her know she’s truly on board. She reaches for the check, but Diane slides it out from under her hand. Diane tells Tracy, if what she says is true and a judge agrees, then Tracy and whomever she’s working with are going to get a huge payoff. Tracy says she knows, and Diane will be entitled to a quarter of it. Diane says, she’s cute. No. She’ll be entitled to a third. Now if Tracy will excuse her, she needs to go see other clients. She leaves, and Tracy strolls over to Martin. She drips an ice cube over his head, startling him, and she asks if he wasn’t going to say hello.

Mac asks what Felicia is doing with all this garbage, as he and James put on gloves. She says, they’re looking for evidence, and Mac says, if she obtained this garbage illegally… She says, garbage is fair game, but he says, it depends on how she got it. She says, if he must know, she got it from the housekeeper. He looks at her, and she says, it’s the honest truth. James asks, what’s hummingbird cake? and Mac says, it’s cake that’s popular in the South. He asks Felicia, whose garbage is this anyway? and she asks James if he knows what this is, showing him something in a plastic bag. He shakes his head, and she says, this is the jackpot.

Felicia dumps shredded paper out of the bag, and says, looks like someone was in a rush to put their bank statement through the paper shredder. That explains why some of the pieces are larger than others. She suggests they see it as a jigsaw puzzle. All they have to do is put the pieces together. James asks Mac, what is this? and shows him a piece of paper that says, MARTIN GREY, ESQUIRE.

Martin says, long time, no see, and Tracy says, the last time their paths crossed… He says, she was behind bars, and she says, yeah. It was that unfortunate misunderstanding with Alexis. She doesn’t believe she ever properly thanked him for representing her, and he says, come to think of it, she didn’t. Where does he send the bill? She laughs, and tells him to never lose his sense of humor. Is he still with Lucy Coe? He says he is. Why does she ask? She says, chacun a son gout, and he says, come again? She says, to each his own taste. Actually, her dearly departed brother also found Lucy Coe irresistible. Of course (🍷) that was never a match made in heaven. He says, that sounds vaguely like a warning, but she says, it’s a prediction.

Cody asks Dante if it’s really so hard to believe that his old pal could come up with a plan on his own. Not just some harebrained scheme, but an actual way to hit pay dirt? Dante says he thinks Cody’s smart. It’s just Cody’s judgement he questions. Cody says he can’t afford what Dante considers judgement. He doesn’t have a father with the same connections as Dante’s. He doesn’t have a Sam in his life, or kids, or family, or friends. He’s not trying to throw himself a pity party. He’s just saying he’s had to scratch and claw for everything he’s ever gotten. Dante says, by choice. He’s got friends. Cody’s got him, he’s got Sam, he’s got Sasha. He has a family. He’s got a dad. He’s just got to let them in. Or maybe the money is of more value to him.

Maxie says, Lucy thinks she stole from her own company? but Lucy says, no. She doesn’t really think that. She doesn’t want to think that, but IT was very, very clear, the unauthorized download, that data came from Maxie’s computer and her computer only. Maxie says she accesses the shared file all the time. She was looking around in it yesterday, but she definitely didn’t download anything. Brook can back her up. Brook was with her. Remember? She was surprised to see Brook on her day off. Brook says, of course (🍷) she remembers that, and Lucy says, fine. Does Brook remember seeing Maxie download anything, or anybody at all download anything from Maxie’s computer?

Willow tells Nina that her immune system is still going to be compromised for a little while. The hardest part will be keeping Wiley and Amelia at a distance for a few weeks. It also means allowing a small bubble of friends and family to be in the same room with her. Nina says, Willow is including her in this bubble? and Willow says she wants to be very clear that Carly will be part of it too. She asked Nina this once before when she thought she was dying, but it’s even more important to her now when she has so much to live for. Feuding and the need for vengeance have to stop immediately. If Nina wants to be part of her life, she has to make peace with Carly.

Walking into Sonny’s old kitchen and admiring the moss bowl🎍, Diane apologizes for being late. She ran into Tracy Quartermaine. Carly says, enough said, but her timing’s perfect, and Sam guesses that’s her cue to go. Carly’s in good hands. She leaves, and Carly says, Diane made sure she got this house when she and Sonny divorced. Now she needs Diane to make sure she’ll get top dollar when she puts this house on the market. Diane asks if she’s seriously thinking of selling, and Carly says, please don’t try to talk her out of it. She just went through that with Sam, and this is the only chance she has. There’s nothing else she can do. Diane says, how Carly underestimates her.

Maxie says, her computer may have been the entry point, but why would she want to download files she already has access to? What would be her reason for doing that? Lucy says, that is curious. She’s right. But if Maxie didn’t do it, who did?

Martin says, doubtless, Tracy has her own history with Lucy. Fortunately, his lady love and he share a great many things in common, including an unshakable faith in each other. She says, that’s adorable, but she was wondering if he would be interested in a little proposition.

Cody says, Dante can think what he wants, but he’s learned not to count on anyone but himself. Dante asks how that’s working out for him, and leaves.

Mac says, it’s a quarterly bank statement, and Felicia says, look at that. $50,000 is automatically deposited every month. James says, this puzzle isn’t any fun. All the pieces are the same. He’s getting a cookie. Mac asks James to get one for him too, please, and James goes to the kitchen. Felicia says, odds are those monthly deposits were made by Martin’s biggest client Valentin, and Mac says, but why aren’t the checks drawn from a bank here in Port Charles? She says, he’s right. They come from a town in Pennsylvania… Pine Valley.

Nina gives Willow her word. Her feud with Carly is officially over. Michael knocks at the door and comes in with Sonny. Sonny asks if Nina is okay, and coming out from the isolation area, Nina says she’s better than okay. Willow invited her into her bubble of friends and family. Sonny hugs Nina, and Willow asks if Michael is upset with her decision. He says, no, never. If she wants Nina included in her circle, he’s not going to stand in her way. Because her happiness means everything to him. Everything

Carly tells Diane that she doesn’t understand. All the equity she has is in the house. It’s all she has. Unless she sells it, she won’t be able to afford anything. Diane asks, who’s the lawyer here? At least let her make her case. She starts to show Carly something in a booklet.

I would have ended with the Pine Valley reveal, but okay.

Tomorrow, Tracy is prepared to offer someone a challenge; Marshall asks if he’s going to see Curtis at home tonight; Finn says, there will be no more romantic evenings for him and Elizabeth in the future; and Brook says, they have a problem.

🍊 RHOC This…

Why The Real Housewives of Orange County go on trips together is beyond me. Any Housewives trip is usually proof positive that the wrong people have all the money and get to take amazing vacations. And while this trip was indeed amazing, it wasn’t exactly Dubai. These women for sure don’t belong on a ranch. So even more puzzling.

Fancy Pants Heather was upset because Taylor had been belittling her career to Tamra. Taylor and Tamra were both equally guilty of making a little fun of Fancy Pants, but no surprise, Tamra pointed her finger at Taylor, and in her interview, Fancy Pants said she thought it would be disappointing if Tamra wasn’t supportive of her career, and felt she had no choice but to believe her. Clearly she doesn’t know Tamra, although Gina wondered why they were pretending Tamra was a saint. Also no surprise, Fancy Pants made a bigger deal of it than it was, and I’m sure there will be no end to it. Taylor thought she and Tamra had a tighter bond than that. Another one who clearly doesn’t know Tamra. Emily was spot-on in her interview, saying, Tamra would throw anyone under the bus, then drive the bus over them, and burn the bus so there would be no evidence.

There were all kinds of apologies between Tamra and Shannon, and in her interview, Fancy Pants said she was glad Tamra and Shannon were getting along, but hoped she didn’t end up being odd man out. Give it time. Like five minutes and a few tequilas.

Then there was the topic that wouldn’t die, Tamra yapping about new girl Jen’s infidelity or whatever, and how her boyfriend Ryan had claimed he wanted to do Tamra before he was doing Jen, even though he knew Tamra was married. Tamra ended up announcing this around the campfire, and Jen tried to explain that she hadn’t even held Ryan’s hand before she told her husband it was over. Fancy Pants whispered to Gina that she thought emotional affairs were worse, which just added fuel to Gina’s already emo fire. She wanted to call Travis and vent, but Fancy Pants warned her against it, saying, if she kept bringing up how she gets triggered, Travis would start thinking their relationship wasn’t solid. Gina still had some work to do, and he wasn’t her therapist or brother. Much as I hate to admit it, Fancy Pants was not wrong here. In Fancy Pants’s interview, she said, if Gina was still getting upset with something that happened years ago, maybe she wasn’t over it.

They drove tractors, roped, and shoveled poop, Fancy Pants wondering if Chanel made a shovel. Shannon wore overalls with one buckle undone, and… just no.

On the home front, Emily had gotten Annabelle signed with a modeling agency. She thought Annabelle needed some professionalism in her life, as they called her their feral child since she acted like they’d picked her up in the woods. We found out that Emily had modeled for department store ads when she was younger, and Shane had a talk show when he was a senior in high school on public access. Emily mused about it being in Annabelle’s DNA.

My vote for common denominator: Tamra.

Next time, rafting; Gina doesn’t listen to Fancy Pants, and talks to Travis anyway; Tamra tells Eddie about Ryan wanting to hit that; and Ryan insists it didn’t happen.

🎆 What They Did…

Probably not much different than what everyone else did.

Soap Stars Celebrate Independence Day — See the Family Photos!

💎 Keeping Quiet…

They might have read a little too much into this.

Kathy Hilton’s Cryptic Post About ‘Silence’ Following Reports of Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky Split

☎️ Prank Call, Prank Call…

You know how it is when you have a sleepover.

Vicki Gunvalson Voicemail to Ex Steve Lodge Leaks as She Denies Harassment

👠 Off With Their Heads…

Bravo keeps rewarding bad behavior, and won’t be happy until they end up with a lawsuit because of Teresa.

https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/8520777/rhonj-melissa-gorga-chopping-block-teresa-giudice-not-fired/

🥩 Chefs Outdone…

One of my favorite parts of any Deck in the franchise – food p*rn.

Times When Below Deck Chefs Really Outdid Themselves

💸 No Villa For You…

I love the bit of amateur psychoanalysis at the end.

https://screenrant.com/vanderpump-rules-tom-schwartz-shady-tom-sandoval-vanderpump-villa/

🍸 Next Rules…

Probably not much you really need to know.

Everything to Know About ‘Pump Rules’ Season 11

🦔 Ending With a Smile…

Lotsa cute pets here.

https://honey.nine.com.au/pets/celebrity-pets/daad8159-e6e9-497d-9f42-ca1c18069679

🌪 Monday Holiday Day Confusion…

Make a return trip tomorrow for soap and random cups of tea. Until then, stay safe, stay not expecting someone else to clean up after you, and stay knowing your memories aren’t bound by four walls and a roof. They come with you wherever you go.

Jun3

June 2, 2023 – Mason Comes Calling, The Bureau, Hot Doc, Her Reality, Seeking Peace, VanderCompost, Chef Farewell, Dead Spin, Model Pup (!), Seven Solid Quotes & Born

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Jordan is about to knock on Curtis’s door, when she flashes back to their kiss. As she starts to knock, Curtis opens the door, surprised to see her, and she says he’s probably wondering how she knew he was here. He says, so she came to see him? and she says, yes. His wife told her where to find him.

The bank officer tells Spencer that everything seems to be in order, and brings him the safety deposit box. Per instructions of the late Victor Cassadine, the contents of the box now belong to him. He’s sorry for Spencer’s loss. Instead of laughing, Spencer thanks him, and he leaves. Spencer tells Trina, it’s not too late. They can leave the box and walk out of here. He knows his Uncle Victor, and no good will come from opening this box. She asks if he really doesn’t want to know what this box might be protecting his family from.

Ava finds Austin at the hospital, and wonders if she can ask him a question. He says, sure, and she says, it’s about her post-op recovery. She suggests they find somewhere private, and he says, you bet. His voice gets louder, and he says, if they’re going to discuss her post-op recovery, they should probably do it in his office. They walk down the hall, and she says, they’ve got a problem.

Michael walks into Sonny’s old kitchen, and Carly says, perfect timing. She just made brownies. What brings him by? Not wanting to admit he’s there to visit the moss bowl🎍, he flashes back to Josslyn telling him to give Carly the evidence to save herself. Carly says, it’s not bad news, is it?

Josslyn goes to Dex’s apartment, and says, they’re in private, so no one can listen to them. Can he please just email her the video of Sonny taking the shipment from Pikeman? He says he doesn’t have it.

Sonny sees Dante at the pool, and asks if he’s seen Nina, but Dante says he’s been too busy looking at that pretty girl over there, indicating Sam. Sonny says, it looks like they’re in a good place, and Dante says he can’t complain. Sonny seems lighter. Sonny says, maybe it has something to do with him and Nina being engaged, and Dante hugs him, saying, congratulations. That’s awesome news. Things are looking up in Sonny’s world. Sonny says, not everything, as Ned walks in. Sonny goes over to Ned, and Sam asks Dante, what’s going on with Sonny? Dante says he doesn’t know, and asks if Sam knew Sonny and Nina got engaged. She says she just overheard him telling Dante, but she guesses she shouldn’t be surprised. This means he and Carly have truly moved on.

Carly asks if Willow is okay, but he says he spoke to her this morning, and so far, so good. She asked about Carly. She’s worried; they both are. Carly says she doesn’t want Willow worrying about her. She has to focus on herself. Would he please tell Willow that she’s fine? He says, they both know she’s not fine, and from what she told him, she doesn’t have many options. She says she’ll take her chances in court, or go for a deal, okay? and he says, which means offering up Drew or dad to the Feds. She says she knows it’s not much of a choice… and he says, so she’s going to take her chance in court? She says she doesn’t know, but it’s her decision to make. That’s why she doesn’t want him and Josslyn fighting over this. This is her problem. He says, what affects her, affects them, and she says she knows that. Whatever decision she makes will be what’s best for this family. He asks what decision that will be.

Josslyn says, Dex doesn’t have the footage? and he says he gave the only copy to Michael. She asks, why? and he says, because it’s his property. Michael paid him, he gave Michael the footage; end of story. She says, it’s not end of story, because that video’s the one shot her mom has at not going to prison. He says, then she needs to get it from Michael, and she says she can’t believe he risked his life to get this video, and he doesn’t keep a copy for insurance. He says, that’s not how he works. He provides a service. When he was in the military, he had a mission, an objective, and he completed it. He didn’t take ownership of it. It’s the exact same thing now. Michael hired him; the footage belongs to him. Even if he had a copy, which he doesn’t, he couldn’t give it to her.

Ned says, no need for Sonny to get in his face. He has no beef with him. Sonny says, only with Carly, ratting her out to the SEC? That’s low, even for a Quartermaine. Ned says he doesn’t owe Sonny any explanations. He’s here to see his wife. Sonny says, Ned’s not going anywhere until he’s done with him.

Ava tells Austin that Nikolas inherited property in the Chechen Republic, and Laura thinks that’s where he’s been hiding out. Austin asks, why? and she says, the theory is that Victor hid him there once before, and Laura wants to fly to Chechnya, find him, and bring him home. He says, she told him they have a problem. If Laura wants to go to Chechnya, she’s not going to find him. Let her go. Let her try. Ava says, it’s dangerous. She could be hurt or worse. They have to stop her. He says he’s going to push back on that just a little bit. If Ava goes to Laura and tells her not to go to Chechnya to look for her long lost son, she’s going to want to know why. He totally understands that she’s worried, but she can’t say anything to Laura. She can’t do anything to raise suspicion. She says she can’t have any more blood on her hands, especially not Laura’s.

Curtis says, Jordan spoke to Portia about him? but she says, don’t worry. She didn’t tell Portia what happened with them at The Savoy. Isn’t he going to invite her in? He says, absolutely, and she walks in the house. She says, it really is lovely here. When was he going to tell her that he moved back home? He says, actually, he was coming to find her right now. He opened the door and there she was. She says, she’s always here when he needs her, except she’s not sure it works the other way around. He says, she’s angry, and she says, he can add hurt to that. Definitely confused. After they kissed, they agreed she’d wait, and while she was waiting, he reconciled with his new wife.

Spencer puts the key in the box, and tells Trina, if Pandora had left that box closed, the world would have been spared its evils. She says, hope also came out of that box. Stop stalling. He opens it, and she asks if that’s what she thinks it is. He says, what fresh hell? and takes out a tablet. He tries it, and says, of course (🍷). No juice. Maybe it’s sign. He puts it back in the box and closes it, but she says, it just needs a fresh charge. Good thing his girl always comes prepared. She digs in her bag, and says, her dad has a rule; she should never be without a charge. She takes out a charger, and he says, remind him to thank her dad the next time he sees him. She plugs in the tablet, and he takes an envelope out of the box, pulling out a paper. She asks if that’s a receipt, and he says, from an online pharmacy. This is a prescription filled from Esme for the same drug that almost killed Oz Haggerty. She says, and poisoned her.

Carly says she’s not selling anybody out, but Michael says, maybe she shouldn’t look at it that way. She asks how she’s supposed to see it. She either turns on the man she loves or the man she used to love, who happens to be the father of her kids. He says, she told Sonny that she wouldn’t double-cross him. While that’s admirable, from where he’s standing, Sonny hasn’t exactly extended the same courtesy to her or this family. She says, that’s not true. Sonny offered to give her information that she could offer the Feds; something he could defend himself against. She turned him down. She doesn’t want to open that door. He says, what if she had something Sonny couldn’t defend himself against?

Ned suggests he save Sonny and himself some time. If he doesn’t pull some strings and get the SEC to stop the investigation against Drew and Carly, Sonny makes him pay. Is that the gist of it? Sonny says, Ned’s going to pay, and Sam tells Dante that he may want to do something about this. Ned asks if Sonny is threatening him, but Sonny says he doesn’t threaten people; he gets even. He thought they had mutual respect, until Ned went after the mother of his kids. Ned says he had nothing to do with it, and they start yelling at each other. Dante comes over, and tells them to settle down, but Ned says he’s not the one who started this. Sonny says he’ll finish it. Is that what Ned wants? Olivia comes out, and asks, what the hell is going on here?

Ava tells Austin that she’s a mother too. She understands what Laura is going through, but she can’t risk anything happening to Laura while she searches for Nikolas, especially since it’s her fault he’s gone in the first place. He says, let’s do it. Let’s figure out a way to stop Laura. She thanks him, and he says he’d like to propose some terms though. She says, like what? and he says he doesn’t see any reason to rush things. It’s probably hard for anybody to go to Chechnya, let alone an American, and it’s probably not going to be easy for Laura to get out of Chechnya. So whatever plan Laura comes up with has to be well thought out and considered, and hopefully, that will give them some time to really think about how to stop her.

Curtis tells Jordan that him moving back in with Portia isn’t a reconciliation. It’s just a first step. She asks if Portia knows that, and he says he’s staying in the guest room. She says, even so, what gives? Was he ever considering reviving what they had together, or was she just there to help him sort out his feelings for his wife? He says he’d never play her like that. What happened between them was spontaneous. It was compulsive, but it was completely organic. She says, maybe this is on her. She got wrapped up in a single kiss. She misread the situation, didn’t she?

Spencer says he wasn’t sure Trina knew that Esme drugged her that night at the cabin, and she says, her mom and Curtis suspected it. She barely drank that night, and certainly not enough to make her feel so out of it. How did he know? Did Esme tell him? He says he found pills. He was going through all Esme’s things trying to find something that would clear Trina in court, and he brought one of the pills to Britt. She told him that it was an opioid analgesic, something if mixed with alcohol could cause a person to lose consciousness. He’s so sorry. She says, so is she, and he says he means he’s sorry he didn’t tell her about this sooner, but things just kept happening, one thing on top of another, and he guesses it just got buried. He’s sorry. She says, she knows. It’s okay. it’s been a lot, but it sure comes back up though. It was such a violation, and it started the whole revenge porn case. At least she didn’t end up like Oz Haggerty in a coma. He says he wanted to be the one to save her, but he didn’t have any actual proof. She picks up the prescription, and says, until now.

Ava thanks Austin, and says she feels so much better. It really helps her that she has someone to share this with. He says, literally any time. When she said there was a problem, he thought she might have heard from Mason, but she says, not a peep. He says, that’s great, but weird, because usually when he has his hooks in somebody, he’s not inclined to let go. She says, small favors, as he opens his office door. Can they hope that Mason has given up… Just outside the door, Mason says, given up on them? Never.

Dex opens his laptop and tells Josslyn, look for herself. She says, if he tells her it’s not there, she believes him. She has to. Because if he’s lying, they’ve got nothing. He says he spent months telling her half-truths and keeping secrets. He won’t do that again. She says, even if it’s his job? Just like it was his job to get the video for Michael, and not keep a copy, and not give it to her? He says, to him, honesty and evidence are two different things. He can tell her what he’s doing, but he can’t make her a part of it.

Ned says, he and Sonny were just having a friendly chat; one where he just shuts up and listens. Olivia says, in case Sonny’s forgotten, this is her place of business, and Sonny says, so he can’t have a conversation in her hotel? Sam says she thinks what Olivia means is, they should do this more privately, and Dante says, like not at a patio with a pool full of witnesses. Sonny says, to be continued, and Ned says he gets that Sonny is pissed. Had he done what Sonny is accusing him of doing, Sonny would have every right to threaten him, but as God is his witness, it wasn’t him.

 Michael says, at least he and Sonny are in agreement about one thing; they both don’t want Carly to go to prison. Carly says she knows he has huge issues with his dad, and he says he does. Despite everything that happened, he still had to come to grips with wanting to save his mother at the expense of his father. Carly says, it’s a good thing he doesn’t have to, and Michael says, Joss is worried about her and so is he. If it came down to the choice of saving her or Sonny… She says she’s not going to sacrifice Sonny to save her own skin; she won’t do that. He says, what if he does it instead?

Trina wonders how this receipt got here. Is there something else in that envelope? Spencer takes out a folded paper, and says, it’s a letter, handing it to Trina. She reads: Dear Maggie, I need your advice. I may be in a lot of trouble… He says, that’s Esme’s nanny, takes the letter and reads: That sleazy bartender I met has been harassing me. I tried to convince him to leave me alone, and things got out of control. I slipped him something so I could get away. I may have seriously hurt him. Trina asks if Spencer realizes what this is, and he says, evidence. She says, it’s got to be Esme’s handwriting, and he says, it looks like it. She says, isn’t that just like Esme, trying to slant things to make herself look like the victim? She’s the one who purposely drugged Oz Haggerty. You could never induce that girl to tell the truth. He says, total amnesia could, and Trina says, this is amazing. A receipt that proves Esme bought the drugs that could incapacitate two people, and a written confession. What else do they need? He asks if she thinks it’s enough, and she says, only one way to find out. She opens the fastest charging tablet in the world, and they look at it.

Curtis says, Jordan didn’t misread anything. His feelings for her are real, and him moving in here doesn’t change that. I call him an idiot, and she asks, how real are his feelings for Portia? He says he’d be lying if he said he didn’t have feelings for Portia as well, and she says she’s out of here. He says, she accused him of not giving their marriage the chance it needed, and she was right. When Jordan wanted to work on things, he walked away because he wasn’t ready to handle the pain at that time. Now he’s trying to learn from his mistake. It wouldn’t be fair to her and Portia if he walked away from his marriage before he sorted out his feelings. She asks how he plans on doing that, and he says, by not avoiding Portia, by committing to having the hard conversation, by doing what he didn’t do with her, and that’s putting in the hard work. She says, that’s admirable, and great news for Portia, but where does that leave her?

Ned says, Sonny is right. They’re families have had an ugly history, but they share a family member. They both prioritize family, and granted, the Quartermaines don’t always show it. But when push comes to shove, they’re loyal and they pull together. When he threatened Drew, he was angry, but that’s where it ended. And he considers Carly family, not just because she’s Michael’s mother, but she’s Olivia’s best friend, and loved by his son Leo. He would never hurt her. Sonny suggests they not pretend Ned would never act in his own self-interest. His family loyalty took a vacation when he threw in with Valentin, and that’s the reason Carly lost half her hotel. Ned says, and he regrets that, which is why he’d never kick her while she’s down. Olivia says, she and Sonny go way back, which is why she’s not asking him to believe Ned. She’s asking Sonny to believe her. Her husband didn’t do this.

Mason says, don’t Austin and Ava look comfortable; all cozy and at ease. Did they miss him? Mason comes in, and Austin closes the office door. Mason says, sorry he’s been gone so long. He was out of town on important business. But worry not. He didn’t forget about them. He’s keeping tabs. Austin asks, how? and Mason asks if anybody ever told Austin that he worries too much. He should be more like their girl Ava. She’s been living her life; carrying on without a care in the world. It’s almost as if she didn’t miss her husband.

Dex says he’s sorry. Josslyn’s scared about her mom, and she came to him thinking he could save her, but he can’t. He feels like he’s failing her. Josslyn says she came up with a plan that didn’t work. She thought he could give her something he literally doesn’t have. So it’s not his fault. None of this is his fault. It’s her family’s mess, and she doesn’t know how to fix it. If her mom doesn’t turn in that evidence, and goes to prison, then Donna literally has nobody except Sonny and Nina, and she needs her mom. He says, Donna will have her. He thinks Josslyn needs her mom too, and Josslyn says, but she’s grown, and she shouldn’t need her mom as much as she does. He says, we always need the people who care about us the most, and she says she can’t sit here and do nothing. She has to find a way to help her mom. He suggests she start by trusting her mom.

Carly tells Michael, the Feds have been circling this family for years. She hasn’t talked, and she’s not going to start now, even for a deal. He says, she could probably send Sonny away with what she already knows, and she shrugs. He says, but there’s a way to ensure she never has to open her mouth. He takes out the flashdrive, and tells her, what’s on this flashdrive is irrefutable evidence that Sonny violated the National Security Act. Just give him the word, and he’ll make sure the relevant parties see it. Her hands will be clean. She asks, what’s on the flashdrive? and he says, video footage of Sonny and his crew finalizing a deal to transport a dangerous weapon. She asks how he knows this. How did he even get that flashdrive? He says, because he commissioned it.

Sonny says, because of Olivia, this is over, but if he hears Ned had any part of this… Ned says he won’t, and Olivia tells Sonny, see you around, and leaves with Ned. Sam gives Sonny and Dante some space, and Dante says, what the hell was that? Sonny says, from what he knows, Ned had something to do with Carly’s problems with the SEC. What does Dante expect him to do? Dante says, not that. He wants to go to bat for the mother of his children, that’s fine, but don’t go after Ned in a public place. Ned has an accident or something, and who does Sonny think they’ll want him to talk to? Sonny. Does he really want both of Donna’s parents to end up behind bars?

Carly says, Michael paid someone to spy on Sonny? and he says he needed proof of criminal liability that could send Sonny to prison for the rest of his life, and this was more than he could ask for. Obviously upset, Carly asks what he was thinking. What’s on that drive could destroy their family. He says he knows. Willow told him the same thing. That’s why, after they got married, he decided to forget about taking Sonny down anymore. She says, but he still held on to it, and he says, it’s a good thing he did. This could be the only thing that’s standing between her and federal prison.

Dex says, Josslyn can’t tell Carly how to handle this, anymore than Carly can tell her how to handle her life. Josslyn says, she definitely has opinions, and he says, about him; about her being with him. Josslyn says, she told him; her mom just doesn’t want to see her get hurt. She never directly told Josslyn not to be with him. She knows Josslyn wouldn’t listen. He says, it would have solved all their problems if he’d done what Michael wanted and left Port Charles, but she says, not really, because she offered to go with him, and she meant it. He says he knows, and the fact that she was willing to do that terrified him.

Ava says, you freak, and Austin steps between her and Mason, who says, ouch. Is that really what she thinks of him? After everything he’s done for her? Does he need to refresh their memories about what would have happened if he hadn’t stepped in to solve their little problem? They don’t like sunshine and fresh air? Because he could go to the PCPD right now, and guarantee they never see those again. Austin asks, what’s his point? Is there one? Does he have a purpose, or is he just there to torment them? Mason says, don’t rush him. Although he appreciates the go-getter attitude. He’s going to need it. It’s time for the two of them to show poor old Mason some appreciation.

Looking at the tablet, Trina says, is that… Spencer says, Esme with the bartender, and she says, this looks like a still from the security camera on the docks. What are they doing? Spencer says, that’s a hand-off, and Trina asks if this is proof Esme paid for a burner phone; the same one she filmed Joss and Cam with? He says, sure looks like it, and she says, all this time they thought Esme could cover up her tracks so well. She guesses there’s no such thing as a perfect crime. He says, no. At least not where his Uncle Victor is concerned.

Curtis says he knows this is uncomfortable for Jordan, and he knows it isn’t fair. But he never would have asked her to wait if he thought she was some consolation prize. She asks if Portia knows she’s the other half of this equation, and he doesn’t say anything. She says, for someone who hates dishonesty, doesn’t he think he should be fully transparent to both women in his life? He says he does. There’s just more at play here. She says, Portia told her the news. He’s Trina’s father. He says he is, and she says, congratulations. He thanks her, and she says, he’s navigating so much. Is there really room in his life for another complication? He says, she’s much more than that. It just took him too long to realize it. Can she give him just a little bit more time?

Mason says, if it wasn’t for him, they would both be behind bars, and Austin suggests Mason just tell them what he has in mind. Mason says he has something he needs them to do, and Ava says she’d be happy to buy him a bus ticket out of town. He doesn’t even have to ask. Mason says, Ava’s attitude will come in handy, as well as her charisma and fearlessness. Ava’s got all the charisma they need. Ava says, his needs are not her problem, and her ample charisma is none of his damn business. Mason says, so feisty, and Austin says, she is. Why doesn’t he just explain to Ava what he wants from her? Mason says, we want to work your very specific connections, and Ava says, we who? And what connections is he talking about? Does he want a deal on a piece of art? Mason says, it’s not about her art. It’s about her family.

Trina says she has so many questions. How did Spencer’s uncle obtain all this evidence, and how long was he sitting on it for? And if he hadn’t died, would Spencer have ever known? Spencer says, those are all valid questions. This safety deposit box contains a smoking gun. This is exactly what he was hoping for. Trina suggests they get everything together and go to the PCPD. He has everything he needs to get custody of his baby brother.

Jordan says she’s been living in limbo since her and Curtis’s divorce. While he reunited with Portia, fell in love, and proposed, she found herself buried in work, even resisting going out on dates. He says he never wanted that for her, but she says she’s not blaming him. It was her choice not to move on. Maybe subconsciously she was holding out for hope. He says he doesn’t want to keep her waiting. That’s exactly why they’re having this conversation, so he can find out where he stands with Portia, and find out where he stands with her. She says she knows where they stand. She hopes he can find what he’s looking for here, and hopes he and Portia can be happy, together or apart. He says, and her? and she says she has to truly let go; finally. Two years was too long to put her life on hold. She leaves.

Olivia says she’s sorry, but Ned says he doesn’t blame her. He’s let her down before. She says, he’s also been there before, like with Leo. She should have never doubted him. Can he forgive her? He says, maybe. Can she remind him what she said to Sonny again? She says, my husband didn’t do this? and he says, one more time. She repeats it with tears in her voice, and he kisses her.

Josslyn tells Dex, she gets it. This is just too much. What started as a casual thing just got way too intense. He says, they’ve never put a label on their relationship. In the beginning, he was excited to just spend time with her, but usually she was tearing into him for working for Sonny. Then she rescued him from a meat hook, patched him up when he was shot. She even covered for him when he took a shot at that killer on the docks. She says, anyone would have done that, and he says, not anyone would have gone to the lengths for him that she has.

Sonny says, Donna shouldn’t have to lose time with her mother in jail, and Dante says, okay, but Carly’s actions bear some responsibility, no? Sonny says, she didn’t do it on purpose, but whoever pointed the SEC at Carly and Drew sure as hell did. There’s an agenda. Sam comes back with drinks, and Dante says, Sonny sounds like he has someone in mind other than Ned. Sam says, that tip to the SEC was anonymous, and Sonny says, anybody could be trying to get to Carly, or use Carly to get to him.

Carly covers her face with her hands, and Michael says he’d decided this information would never serve a good purpose, but now he realizes it could save her. Does she want to use it, or does she want him to? Carly says she’d prefer it didn’t exist, and he says he respects that, but if she changes her mind… She says she won’t. This footage can never see the light of day. Who else knows about this? Wait. I haven’t seen the moss bowl🎍since that first scene. Did Michael steal it when she wasn’t looking?

Dex says, Josslyn has defended him to her mom, gone to bat for him with her brother, and even pleaded his case to Sonny. She’s special; once in a lifetime. The thought of losing her scares him because he’s in love with her. Now it’s his turn to ask; is this too much for her? She says she loves him too, and they kiss.

Pfft! for a Friday ending.

On Monday, Tracy asks what the hell someone is doing; Mason wants Ava to use her connection to Sonny; and Trina asks Spencer what he’s keeping from her.

💣 Spy Vs Spy…

What the WSB is all about.

What Is the WSB on GENERAL HOSPITAL?

🧑🏽‍⚕️ Most Wanted…

It doesn’t surprise me that everyone wants to work with him. And he’s one of the few I’ll allow to have a man bun.

Maura West Opens up About Working With Roger Howarth on GH

👏🏼 She Has the Clap…

My least favorite OC Housewife.

RHOC’s Tamra Judge Claps Back at Gina’s Drinking Claims, Offers Update on Teresa Feud, and Shares What Eddie’s Been Doing Since Gym Closure, Plus Worst Housewife Quality

💎 Good Luck With That…

These people are just weird.

Kyle Richards Allegedly Wants a Truce in Family Feud With Kathy Hilton

🍸 You Know the Drill…

Bombshells and rumors.

Scheana Shay on What Producers Said About Pump Rules Reunion Bombshell, Why Raquel Will Quit Show, Plus She Addresses Raquel Pregnancy Rumors

Ariana speaks.

Ariana Madix Shares Raquel Leviss’ Text Message to Tom, Most Hurtful Part of Affair, and Addresses Billie Lee and Open Relationship Rumors, Plus Gushes Over Daniel Wai

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Although I do think the reason she’s so vapid is that Ariana was right the first time; she finds her identity in men. Without a puppeteer, she’s a literal blank slate.

https://www.etonline.com/raquel-leviss-addresses-her-future-on-vanderpump-rules-after-scandoval-205751

Most of this isn’t shocking. It’s a little sad how Ariana feels about LVP. Of course LVP can do no wrong, but I actually see where she’s coming from. She’s a lot older than the cast, and she’s always taken on the mom role. It’s not that she condones what that awful weasel with a moustache did, but as one of her kids, she’s not totally turning her back. And seriously, is she supposed to pull out of her investment in TomTom?

https://screenrant.com/shocking-reveals-scandoval-unseen-vanderpump-rules-season-10/#production-pushed-raquel-to-text-ariana-an-apology

👩🏽‍🍳 Packing Her Knives…

Obviously I watch more than I recap, and this one’s a favorite of mine. She’ll be missed.

Padma Lakshmi Announces She’s Leaving ‘Top Chef’ After 17 Years: ‘Time to Move On’

⚰️ Spinning In Their Graves…

What’s coming up on the Dead horizon.

https://winteriscoming.net/2023/06/01/the-walking-dead-dead-city-premiere-to-air-at-an-earlier-time/
https://undeadwalking.com/2023/06/02/many-walking-dead-spinoffs/

🐕 Canine Recreation…

This is precious.

https://people.com/christie-brinkley-senior-dog-recreate-2014-people-cover-exclusive-7505871

🎺 Quotes of the Week

Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You’ll find they haven’t half the strength you think they have. – Norman Vincent Peale

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. – Eleanor Roosevelt (Oooh, snap!)

Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive. – Haruki Murakami

There’s diseases in mouse poops. – the son of a hoarder, Hoarders

Gardens, scholars say, are the first sign of commitment to a community. When people plant corn they are saying, let’s stay here. And by their connection to the land, they are connected to one another. – Anne Raver

I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard…We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. – Malala Yousafzai

The haunted house was a success. We made people cry. – Jonah Johnston, 7 Little Johnstons

🌿  Springing Into Summer…

Enjoy your break from the daily, unless enjoyment is your daily. If so, carry on. Perhaps there will be a dip in the Dead pool on Sunday, but definitely on Monday really Tuesday there will be soap, Deck, and awful Summer people for all. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping cool in hot situations, and stay opening any safety deposit box you’re bequeathed. You never know.

Apr28

April 27, 2023 – Two Uninvited Guests Come To the Wedding, Congrats, Side Gig, Oh Say Can OC, Almost Walked, VanderMadness, Crowned, Daytime Emmy Info & How Far

Posted on by
Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Bobbie says, Donna and Avery look like little princesses, and Carly says, no princess is complete without her crown. Josslyn’s phone rings, and she steps away to answer it, while Carly gets out the flower girl headpieces and she and Bobbie put them on the girls. They show Willow, and she says, perfection. Outside, Josslyn says, it’s like you read my mind. I was just thinking how much I want you here too. I assume she’s talking to Dex. Willow says, Carly is so good with the girls. Strong and confident, yet playful and fun; the kind of mom she wants to be. Carly says, that’s the kind of mom Willow is. She’s the best.

Tracy walks into the nook as Olivia is preparing some dishes, and asks, what’s all this? Olivia says, it’s called food, but Tracy says she means, what is Olivia doing with it? Olivia says, it’s for the wedding. Initially, she was going to call a caterer, then thought, why doesn’t she do it herself, and give it that nice personal touch? Tracy says, just what all brides dream of, an all-you-can-eat wedding buffet, and Olivia says, for Tracy’s information, Willow did not want some stuffy sit-down dinner,. Brook says, it’s going to be very elegant, and Ned says, Brook doesn’t need to be here. He and Olivia have this covered. Brook says she actually prefers to stay behind the scenes right now, and Olivia says, so she can avoid Chase? Maxie comes in, and says, look alive, people. Everything’s almost ready in the living room. How are things going in here? Tracy says, not to worry. All of the food is pre-cooked just like a picnic.

The chairs are set up in the living room, and Michael tells Wiley, this is were he and mommy will be standing when they exchange rings. Wiley says he has an important job, and Michael says, extremely, and there’s no one he trusts more with it.

Dante lets in Sam and Kristina, and Sonny hugs Kristina, telling her that she looks absolutely beautiful, as usual. Dante asks if Sam is ready for this, and she says she thinks so. Michael said they’re keeping things relatively simple. She can’t believe they asked her to officiate (me neither – did she quickly hop on the internet for that?), and Sonny says he can. Dante says he can too. She’s the perfect choice, especially given her relationship with Willow and Michael. Sonny asks if TJ and Molly are on their way, and Kristina says, they should be here any minute. Michael comes out with Wiley, and Sam says, looking sharp, boys. Michael says he was giving Wiley the lay of the land, and Sam says, he’s going to crush it. Wiley runs to Sonny, who asks if he’s excited about the wedding. Wiley says, yeah, and Sonny says he bets. This is the greatest ring bearer in the world. Michael says he has the best.

Nina says she gave the SEC a heads up that a certain CEO was giving his girlfriend stock tips, and Ava says, she told the SEC about Carly and Drew? Nina says, no. She had Martin Grey pass on an anonymous tip that the CEO of Aurora Media and his secret girlfriend were engaged in insider trading. So basically, she took Ava’s advice. She’s never felt better. Ava asks how long she thinks that’s going to last.

Carly asks Bobbie to take the girls to the main house, and Willow says she’s sure they’d love to see how the preparation is going. The girls get excited, and Bobbie tells them, be careful what you wish for. They might get put to work. Josslyn takes Amelia, and follows them out. Carly asks how Willow is feeling, and Willow says, honestly? She’s scared. She so wants this to be the beginning of something, and she’s terrified it’s the end.

Molly and TJ arrive, and Dante suggests commemorating the day. He calls Sonny over, and Molly takes a photo of him, Michael, Dante, and Kristina. Kristina tells Michael, it’s his wedding day, so look like he’s enjoying it, and he says he plans to enjoy every moment of it. Bobbie and Josslyn come in with the girls, and they all pose for more pictures by the stairs. Molly sniffles a little, and TJ tells her that he can take them, but she says she’s got it. Kristina asks if Josslyn wants to get in, but Josslyn says she’s good for now, and Kristina says, suit herself. Molly takes more photos, and they file into the living room. Sam asks TJ if everything is all right with Molly.

Ned practices some scales, and Tracy says, please, but he says, Michael and Willow asked him to sing at the ceremony, and he doesn’t want to disappoint them with rusty pipes. Tracy says, they don’t want anything to derail this ultra highbrow wedding, and Olivia says she’s had just about enough of Tracy. Brook suggests Tracy go into the living room; everyone will be excited to see her. Tracy says, fat chance, but Brook says, even so, and steers her out. Ned tells Olivia to decompress, but Olivia tells him that she didn’t say a word. He tells her, which says everything, and she asks, exactly how long is mommy dearest planning on staying? He shrugs.

TJ says, Molly’s fine, and Sam says, is he sure? She seems a little off. He says he’s sure, but he’s glad she has the support of her sisters.

Kristina asks how the doctor’s appointment went, and Molly says, fine. Kristina says, that’s it? and Molly says, it’s private, but Kristina says, the Davis women don’t do private. What’s going on? Molly says, it turns out getting pregnant might be more difficult than she and TJ had hoped.

Bringing Tracy into the living room, Brook nearly smacks into Chase (again), and Tracy says, the young man Brook’s been hiding from. Brook says, no, and Tracy says, the policeman who owes her a debt of gratitude. Chase says, I’m sorry? and Tracy asks if her granddaughter moved heaven and earth to get his badge reinstated or not? Brook tells Chase that exaggeration is sort of Tracy’s thing, and suggests they find her a seat.

Dante asks if Michael has jitters, but Michael says, actually, no. How about Dante? Can he handle the rigorous best man duties? Dante says, I’m the best, man. Michael’s a great guy and he’s going to be a great husband. He’s been through hell multiple times, and has somebody who loves him as much as Michael loves them. Michael says, forever. Whether Willow’s with him or not, long short or somewhere in between, no matter what happens, this is the happiest day of his life. Dante says, the fact that Michael can see that and knows that is the greatest gift, and they bro hug.

Carly tells Willow, the world is full of beautiful things, and the truth is, none of them knows when their time is up. In her opinion, the greatest tragedy is throwing away what they have today worrying about what’s going to happen tomorrow. Willow is surrounded by her family and friends. She’s going to marry the man she loves. Willow says, loves with all her heart. It took her a while to know it, but Michael is the one. Carly asks if she knows how rare that is. Some people go their entire lives and they never experience that. She knows Willow appreciates every minute she spends with Michael and the kids, but today is the only day we get. Shouldn’t we make it the best one?

Nina says, Ava told her to call the SEC. Ava handed her the phone, and almost dared her to do it. Ava says she was playing devil’s advocate. She was trying to show Nina how way over the top the idea was. It was reverse psychology. She was trying to talk Nina out of doing it, not encouraging her. Nina says, well that backfired. Carly has yet to face a single consequence for what she did. Had she told Willow about her birth mother – Nina – then Willow wouldn’t be on death’s door right now. She could have gotten that bone marrow transplant months ago, and she’d be thriving instead of withering away. Ava says she has to stop Nina right here. Now she’s skating dangerously close to alternative facts. Nina says, tell her one untrue thing about what she said, and Ava says, it’s true Carly was wrong, and should have told Willow that Nina was her birth mother, but that’s not the reason Willow is sick. Nina says, she delayed her treatment, and Ava says, because of the baby, not because of Carly. Nina says, had Willow known… and Ava says, no one knew. Nina is forgetting the fact that Willow didn’t tell anybody about her cancer. Nina says, Ava isn’t blaming Willow now, is she? and Ava says, of course (🍷) not. She’s simply saying, no one had all the information, not even Carly. Nina says, it doesn’t matter. Carly and Drew broke the law, and is it so inconceivable that Carly should pay for her crime? Ava says, that’s just it. If Nina sends Carly to prison, it’s not Carly who pays; it’s Nina.

Olivia tells Ned, that’s it for the prep. Now she can just play hostess to the guests until the ceremony begins. Donna and Avery cut through and go outside, and she says, aren’t they adorable… as they cut a path of total destruction through the house. Ned says, she blows him away, and she says, tell her more. He says, pulling a wedding together in a couple of days, and Olivia tells him, he says wedding; Tracy says picnic. He says, don’t listen to her, when Josslyn asks if they’ve seen Donna and Avery. Olivia says, that-a way, and Josslyn goes outside. Olivia says she’s just so happy that she can do something for Michael and Willow after everything they’ve been through… and everything they’re still going through. She also had a lot of help. Maxie comes in, and asks if they’ve seen Willow.

Willow says, Carly is amazing at putting things into perspective. No more thinking about tomorrow or next week. She lives in the moment. She thanks Carly, but Carly says, thank you. She’s so grateful that Michael found her, and they found love. She prays it lasts for the next 60 years, but if God forbid it doesn’t, it doesn’t take away from the joy they’ve given each other for the past two years. Or the love she’s given Wiley and Amelia. Willow says, but doesn’t some part of Carly wish Michael had never met her, so he could be spared the heartbreak? Carly says, no. it would hurt to see her son in pain, but it would hurt even more if he’d never been in love. She’s seen his face light up when Willow walks in the room, or sees Willow with Wiley, or holding Amelia. Willow has given her son so much. She wouldn’t wish any of that away. She just wishes they had more of it. Willow says, so does she, but they’re not thinking about that. Today they bask in the joy and the love and the light. Carly asks if it’s dress time, and they get up. She says she loves Willow so much, and Willow says she loves Carly too, and they hug.

Nina tells Ava, of course (🍷) it’s her that pays; it’s always her. Ava says, that’s not what she meant, and Nina says, Carly has come between her and Willow over and over again. She’s made sure at every step, challenge, and crisis, she’s the one Willow turns to for support, not Nina. Today for example. It’s her daughter’s wedding day, and who gets to play mother of the bride? Not her – Carly. She’s not even invited to the wedding. Ava says she doesn’t need convincing that Carly is a piece of work, but she needs Nina to acknowledge what’s really going on here. Why did Nina sic the SEC on Carly? Nina asks what she means, and Ava says, just answer the question. Nina says, because Carly and Drew violated… Ava says, come on. Nina doesn’t give a damn about the Securities and Exchange Commission. She doesn’t care about laws, or statutes, or shareholders. Just admit it. She wanted revenge.

Carly wheels Willow in, and she looks really pretty, but what the hell is with that veil? It looks like they just stuck some netting on her head. It’s awful. Was that the responsibility of the wardrobe mistress who recently retired? Maxie says, Willow is the most beautiful bride she’s ever seen except for that janky veil, and Dante says, she speaks the truth. Sam says, they’ll see Willow in there, and goes in with Dante. Wiley runs over to Willow, and she asks if he’s ready to be the best ring bearer ever. He tells her that she looks pretty, and she thanks him. She says she’s sure his daddy is devastatingly handsome, but no one is more handsome than him.

Sam asks how Michael is feeling, and he says, good; he’s ready. He thanks her again for officiating, and she says, of course (🍷). Jason would be really happy for him. He says he’s been thinking about Jason a lot today, and she says, so has she, and about him and Willow of course (🍷). Willow looks so soft and sweet on the outside, and of course (🍷) she is, but Sam doesn’t think people realize how strong she is, and how much she’s been through. Just like Michael. He’s kind and easy-going, but she doesn’t think people realize he has a core of steel. She’s so glad he and Willow were able to recognize that in each other, and she’s honored to be leading them in their vows tonight. He says he loves her, and she says, back atcha, and goes to prepare.

Maxie asks everyone to take their seats. They’re about to begin. Dante says, showtime, and in the foyer, Carly asks if Willow is ready to begin the rest of her life. Willow says, so ready.

Nina says, Ava is way wrong. She’s not doing it for revenge. That’s more Carly’s M.O. Ava says, so Nina doesn’t want to wipe that sanctimonious smile off Carly’s face – Nina says, absolutely – after everything she did to Nina. Engineering it so Willow would go to her for love and support, even though Nina found her a bone marrow donor. Nina says, exactly, and Ava says, Nina is trying to pretend that’s not the reason she turned Carly in to the SEC, and she needs Nina to see that it is. Nina says, because Ava thinks what she’s doing is wrong, but Ava says she’s not going to judge Nina. If she wants revenge, go for it; get her revenge. She’s just saying it better be worth it to Nina. Because if this comes out, it’s the end of her and Sonny.

Canon in D Major (otherwise known as the main theme from Ordinary People) begins to play. Wiley comes in, carrying the rings on a pillow, and the flower girls follow, tossing their petals. Josslyn comes next, and Here Comes the Bride plays. Carly walks Willow down the aisle and hands her off to Michael. He tells her that she’s breathtaking, and she says, so is he. Sam thanks family and friends for joining them in this celebration of Michael and Willow. When they asked her to officiate the wedding, she was kind of surprised because A, she’s never done this before, and B, there’s probably a reason for that. But when she sat down and thought about it, it actually made a lot of sense. She’s known Michael since he was just a kid, and they’ve been through a lot of life together. Watching him grow into the man he is today has been one of the greatest privileges of her life. And she and Willow have had some shared experiences, which she won’t get into tonight, but it’s given her insight into the kind of person Willow is; strong, resilient, beautiful, and so, so brave. All of the traits Michael and Willow have in common will only serve them as they embark on their life together. She loves them both so very much. She tells Josslyn that she’s up, and Josslyn reads a passage from Romeo and Juliet that begins, love is not love which alters when it alteration finds. When she concludes, Sam says, that was beautiful. Now Ned will be performing a song that the bride and groom have chosen. Ned begins to play the guitar. But we never hear him sing. Rusty pipes?

Nina says, Sonny’s not going to find out, but even if he did, he’d understand, but Ava says, no, he wouldn’t. Nina says, yes, he would. No one more than Sonny has seen the way Carly’s treated her; the cruelty, the utter disrespect. What she and Sonny have is the real deal. If it wasn’t, Sonny wouldn’t have sacrificed everything for her. Ava says, that’s just it. Sonny sacrificed everything, and he kept choosing Nina over them time and time again, and at great cost. Ava has learned the hard way that Sonny and Carly have their own history, and part of that history is a blind and stubborn and even toxic loyalty. She’s not talking about romance. The two of them could be at each other’s throats, but if a threat comes for one of them, the other will step in and defend them. So if the SEC goes after Carly, and Sonny finds out Nina was behind it, she doesn’t see him backing Nina.

Sam says, Michael and Willow have made things easy on her today, and have requested a traditional ceremony. So here we go. Michael says he knows they asked for this, but as he’s standing here looking at Willow, he has to say how thankful he is for her friendship, her courage, her love, her compassion, her support. And most important, how she’s been such an amazing mother to Wiley. The fact that he gets to call her his wife… Willow says, wait, they’re getting married? and everyone laughs. He says he forgot to thank her for her sense of humor. He couldn’t love her more if he tried, but he’s going to try every single day for the rest of their lives. She says, wow. She can’t let him have his say and not get hers. It’s ironic that he would be up here thanking her, when she was a person who was alone for most of her life. Then came him. At first, he was her friend, and such a good one; supportive, and such a great advice giver. He never judged. As everyone here knows, the first time they did this, it was a legal maneuver, but then this crazy thing happened. As each day passed, she realized how happy she was to be married to him, and it quickly became something she wanted to last. It’s like her whole frame of reference shifted. What she’d refused to see before was suddenly standing in front of her. All of that time, she’d been falling in love with him, and since then, that love has only grown. She’s fulfilled in ways she never thought possible because of him, and their kids, and this amazing family of his. He says, ours, and she says she’s so incredibly lucky.

Sam asks if they’re good to move on to the vows now, and Michael says, they’re ready. She asks if Michael takes Willow to be his wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health… Willow says she’s really putting him through the paces on that one, and Sam says, until death do they part. Will he love and honor her for all the days of his life? He says he will and he does to all of it. She asks if Willow takes Michael as her husband, ditto, ditto, ditto, and Willow says she will. Sam calls to Wiley who brings up the rings.

Nina says, it’s possible that no one will find out, and Ava agrees, it’s possible. Nina says, but Ava doesn’t think it’s likely, and Ava says, she thinks it’s true what they say; secrets have a way of coming out, no matter how hard they try to bury them. Nina says, it’s not like she made up the insider trading; it happened. Anyone could have reported it. Ava says, it wasn’t anyone; it was Nina. She turned in the mother of Sonny’s children to the authorities. Nina looks miserable, and says she turned in Wiley and Amelia’s grandmother to the authorities. She sits down, and says, what will happen if Willow finds out? She’s depended on Carly for so much through all of this. Willow will never forgive her, will she?

Michael says he gives Willow this ring as a sign of their love for and commitment to each other. He promises to support her and care for her, and stand alongside her for all their days. He puts the ring on her finger, and she says and does the same to him. Sam tells everyone that she doesn’t think there’s anything left to say, except by the power vested in her and the state of New York, she now pronounces them husband and wife. Michael says he’ll take it from here, and kisses Willow.  Mendelssohn’s Wedding March plays, and everyone cheers. Michael picks up Wiley, and Willow says she’s never seen a more professional ring bearer. Has he? Michael says he hasn’t. It may be Wiley’s calling. Wiley asks what a calling is, and Michael says, a purpose. Wiley says, so mommy is his? and Michael says, yes, she is. The doorbell rings, and Brook says, that’s weird. Who’d be showing up now? Tracy says, oh please. She’ll get it. Brook says, don’t tell her that Tracy is bored already, and Tracy says, who, me?

Nina says, maybe nothing will come of it. It was an anonymous tip to a bunch of bureaucrats. Ava says bureaucrats who live for this kind of stuff, and Nina says, it could be months or years before they open an investigation, assuming they get that far. Ava says she doesn’t know much about this stuff, but she doubts the government takes kindly to citizens messing with the markets. If she had to guess, she guesses it won’t be long before the SEC is knocking on Carly’s door.

Olivia says, okay, everybody to the solarium for the reception. As I recall, the solarium is not all that big, but maybe it just sounded good and they hope we don’t remember. As the guests are moving out, Tracy brings two guys into the living room. Sonny asks, who’s this? and Tracy says she tried to put them off, but they insisted. They’re from the SEC. Michael says, if this is about ELQ, it’s going to have to wait, and Sonny says, this is his son’s wedding. One of the men says, this does concern ELQ,  but they’re not looking for Michael. Tracy asks if they can say who they are looking for, and he says, Drew Cain and Carly Spencer.

Um… I don’t think that’s how any of this works. I don’t think their first step is to just show up, and certainly not two seconds after they got an anonymous tip.

Tomorrow, Jordan asks why this is their only option; Curtis tells Drew, this is no time for anyone’s personal vendetta; Willow asks if they’ll bring charges against Michael too; Sonny needs a favor; and Brick says he’s got Dex now.

🤞 Fingers Crossed…

God knows they gave Kelly Thiebaud enough to do before she left. She’s deserving for that alone. I sometimes think Nick Chavez overacts, but he is playing a Cassadine, and those characters tend to do that. He also had the thankless job of taking over for a well-established and loved character, and rose to the occasion brilliantly. So here’s hoping for both of them.

GH’s Kelly Thiebaud Is “Overwhelmed” By Her Emmy Nomination
https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-nicholas-chavez-reacts-to-his-daytime-emmy-nomination

🎥 Anna’s Alter Ego…

Another busy woman. She’s probably glad she has scenes in a hospital bed for a while.

Finola Hughes Teases Her Exciting New Project!

🍊 The Bitch Is Back…

Already it starts. I’m so not a fan of Tamra’s. Not just because she’s a shrew of the first magnitude, but it was embarrassing for real Christians everywhere when she claimed to be one, going so far as to be baptized, and then acted like the same she-devil she’s always been. No surprise she jumped right back into it.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/rhoc-shannon-and-tamra-tease-season-17-vickis-return

Tamra Judge Comes Back Swinging in ‘RHOC’ Season 17 Trailer: Watch
https://pagesix.com/2023/04/25/shannon-beador-slams-unhinged-tamra-judge-in-rhoc-trailer/

👠 He Feels the Hate…

Yeah, for someone who claims to be all about love and family, Teresa misses the mark by lightyears. I think Melissa and Joe #2 just finally gave up after the slap in the face of deliberately leaving them out of the wedding. At the very least, Joe should have walked her down the aisle.

https://people.com/tv/andy-cohen-nearly-walked-off-rhonj-reunion-over-teresa-giudice-melissa-gorga-hate/

🍸 And They’re Up…

Because I can’t help but look. The worst thing of all for me has been watching Raquel act like she’s Ariana’s friend. Women very much not supporting women.

https://screenrant.com/vanderpump-rules-worst-scandoval-theory-open-secret/

From across the pond. The entire world is watching. I hate to say it, but this is probably the best thing that could have happened to the show ratings-wise.

https://graziadaily.co.uk/celebrity/news/vanderpump-rules-heres-the-latest-update-on-scandoval/

For those who enjoy the aftermath of a podcast. Not sure what they expected from something called Howie Mandell Does Stuff. Although the problem seemed to be that he didn’t do stuff.

https://www.podplay.com/podcasts/behind-the-velvet-rope-322969/episodes/the-fallout-from-sandovals-howie-mandel-chat-raquels-wellness-arianas-new-life-explosive-vpr-reunion-spoilers-140035975

This guy is really trying to steal Jax’s Worst Human Being in the World title. On top of his many transgressions, Sandoval keeps calling Lisa dude. Seriously, WTF?

https://pagesix.com/2023/04/27/lisa-vanderpump-calls-out-tom-sandoval-raquel-leviss-sleepover-pre-scandoval/

👑 God Save the Queen King…

Billions of people got up before the crack of dawn to watch him get married to Diana, and we saw how that turned out. But if you can’t get your fill of the royals, here you go.

https://www.etonline.com/how-to-watch-king-charles-coronation-live-in-the-us-date-time-events-attendees-and-more-202989

🏆 Love and Talk In the Afternoon…

The who, what, and where for this year’s Daytime Emmys.

https://ew.com/awards/emmys/2023-daytime-emmy-nominations/

Daytime Emmys 2023: The Nominations
Daytime Emmys 2023: Everything You Need to Know

💻 Entering the Chat…

Roll with me tomorrow in a free-for-all of soap, tea, quotes, and a tune applicable to the season. Until then, stay safe, stay never blindly following the crowd, and stay not throwing away what you have today worrying about what’s going to happen tomorrow.